News - State wildlife officials oppose protection for Sierra critter - sacbee.com Subscribe: Home Delivery Special! Sign In | Register Now | PressClub Site HelpSearching for: sacbee.com Web Shopping Yellow Pages Site Navigation NewsSportsBusinessPoliticsOpinionEntertainmentLifestyleTravelMultimediaCarsHomesJobsShoppingNews: Community | State | Nation/World | Crime | Education | Health | Projects | Obituaries | WeatherMore in this section State wildlife officials oppose protection for Sierra critter By Matt Weiser - mweiser@sacbee.com Published 12:03 pm PST Friday, February 8, 2008 Print | E-Mail | Comments (7)| Digg it | del.icio.us California wildlife officials have proposed denying endangered species status for the American pika, a rabbit-like resident of high Sierra peaks that is losing its habitat to climate change. The recommendation came in a staff report presented to the state Fish and Game Commission on Thursday. The commission is expected to discuss the report next month. The pika is the first animal petitioned for listing under the state Endangered Species Act because of effects from climate change. The report cited a lack of data on the pika's decline in California as the reason for denying the listing request, which was submitted by the Center for Biological Diversity. The group also petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the pika under the federal Endangered Species Act, which is pending. Biologists have documented that the pika population is shrinking as mountains warm, because the fist-sized animal is being forced into ever-smaller "islands" of habitat higher in the mountains. But most of this evidence has been gathered in the Great Basin mountains of Nevada and Utah, and several experts contacted by The Bee said there is not yet sufficient evidence of population declines in California. But they said there is evidence of habitat shrinkage in California. And they urged the state to study the problem, as the pika is likely the first of many wildlife species harmed by climate change. "There are enough data to at least warrant a precautionary way of looking at pika, and maybe fund studies, but not dismiss it out of hand," said Andrew Smith, a professor of conservation biology at Arizona State University, who has studied pika colonies in the Eastern Sierra for more than 30 years. "They should look at it seriously." Unique content, exceptional value. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Comments There are 7 comments posted so far. Below is a sampling of the latest comments. Add Your Comments | View All Comments joestalin at 12:40 PM PST Friday, February 8, 2008 wrote: Let's finish the science before we think about declaring the pika an endangered species. I spend a l...more kennek_us at 2:35 PM PST Friday, February 8, 2008 wrote: I am just confused about what might result from this proposed protection. If climate change has cau...more jskdn at 2:40 PM PST Friday, February 8, 2008 wrote: The Center for Biological Diversity is legendary for opposing just about everything using environmen...more Most Popular StoriesE-mailedCommentedSearches Last 24 Hours Interactive primary election maps for the Sacramento region Home Front: Seasonal housing uptick has folks edgy Last Updated 5:42 am PST Friday, February 8, 2008 Analyst: Skip raise for prison officers Published 12:00 am PST Friday, February 8, 2008 State tames its taste for gas Last Updated 6:16 am PST Friday, February 8, 2008 Johnson takes Oak Park steps Last Updated 6:15 am PST Friday, February 8, 2008Last 7 Days Bubble bursts in Elk Grove Published 12:00 am PST Sunday, February 3, 2008 Obama's surprise endorser Last Updated 5:56 am PST Monday, February 4, 2008 Kings Notes: Artest reiterates he'd be better off elsewhere Last Updated 7:25 am PST Tuesday, February 5, 2008 Interactive primary election maps for the Sacramento region Fun and games Last Updated 4:01 pm PDT Friday, July 6, 2007See more most popular stories »More Stories in News Johnson takes Oak Park steps Body near canal identified as Auburn man State wildlife officials oppose protection for Sierra critter C.C. 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