Possible listing of the American pika

May 18, 2009 | By DAMIEN SCHIFF

The pika is a small, rabbit-like animal that lives in the Sierras of California.  It is very intolerant of warm temperatures.  Hence, the environmental community has contended that increasing temperature averages owing to global warming have led to the pika's endangerment.  The Fish and Wildlife Service had denied the Center for Biological Diversity's listing petition, but then settled with CBD following litigation.  The Service earlier this month issued a 90-day positive finding for the pika.  Late last week, CBD won another suit against the California Fish and Game Commission, in which the state trial court ruled that the Commission had used the wrong standard in denying CBD's state petition to list.