04/21/2026
Have you heard of a pika monitoring volunteer and wondered what they do? This is your chance to find out! Meet Eric Brown, a current volunteer who contributes to important monitoring efforts for Valles Caldera National Preserve and Bandelier National Monument.
As a pika monitoring volunteer, Eric describes his work: “Each week I navigate off trail to one or two of the many habitat sites that could potentially be home to pika. In the volcanic Jemez, the sites are called felsenmeers and they appear similar to talus slopes that pika inhabit in mountains north of here. I quietly watch and listen for pika, and after an hour or two, I will survey the area for s**t that may hold clues as to whether the site has an active colony or not. The data myself and other volunteers record may help inform decisions about how these areas are managed.”
Reflecting on his experience, he says, “Every outing provides fond memories of the plants, animals, and terrain I encounter while getting to and from a site, but my favorite memory as a volunteer was the first time I observed a pika in the Jemez. I feel lucky to have found a good fit for my interests while contributing as a volunteer. I think there is still so much to learn about our natural and cultural resources in the Valles Caldera and in Bandelier.” Eric adds that volunteers play an important role in protecting and promoting the unique features of these areas.
Thank you, Eric, for the outstanding work you’ve done to help us better understand pika in Valles Caldera and Bandelier!
Photo description: Eric perches in prime pika habitat. (NPS)
