How to search for a real-life Pikachu while hiking: Travel For Good

The American pika, sometimes likened to Pokemon’s Pikachu, is a furry member of the rabbit family that’s about the size of a baked potato.

They rely on cold temperatures, snowpack, and meadows of fresh flowers. And they're extremely vulnerable to climate change.

That’s where the public comes in.

For the last few years, scientists have encouraged people in Washington state to document pika encounters. Local pika researchers say citizen scientists are actually providing most of the data on pikas in the wild. But they still need help.

The state wants a clearer picture on where exactly pikas live and how many are out there, according to Taylor Cotten with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.