This is not a drill, folks. The Oregon Zoo is looking for some official “pika watchers”—folks tasked with watching one of Earth’s cutest animals. (I mean, who wouldn’t want to do that?) This volunteer position requires being outdoors and scanning the Columbia River Gorge terrain for pikas using binoculars and GPS units, according to The Oregonian.
The Oregon Zoo calls pikas the “fluffiest, squeakiest species in the Pacific Northwest.” Since these tiny mammals are sensitive to global temperature-warming trends, the zoo helps coordinate the Cascades Pika Watch each summer. The Cascades Pika Watch contracts volunteers to conduct 1-2 monthly surveys of pikas in the greater Gorge region.
“Pika watchers” track and log pikas’ presence in the area using public hiking trails. Oregon Zoo says no special skills are required other than “a willingness to learn and a desire to contribute to scientific knowledge.” Volunteers receive training virtually or in person on how to identify pikas in the field (and listening for the pikas’ distinct calls).
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Who’s signing up?? Sounds fun to me.
Learn more about this dream “job” alert for pika watchers here:
Header image courtesy of Michael Durham/The Oregon Zoo