A group put together by the Oregon Zoo will be studying how pikas in region are faring after last year’s Eagle Creek Fire.  American pikas are pint-sized mammals related to rabbits, known for their distinctive high-pitched calls.  They’re often found in rugged high-elevation mountain habitats, but pikas in the Columbia River Gorge are of particular interest because they live at a much lower elevation than any other pika population in the United States.  Cascades Pika Watch is a collaboration of organizations and individual pika researchers convened by the Oregon Zoo.   With a $24,100 Citizen Science grant from the Forest Service, Cascades Pika Watch will work closely with the agency to conduct surveys and collect information to find out how fire affects pika habitat and populations.