Of Dormice and Pika

Image: Sleeping Dormouse

British conservationists are encouraged by research which suggests a slow down in the decline in the numbers of dormice. Numbers fell by 9% between 2002 and 2008, compared with 31% from 1992 to 2002. The People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) said there was "reason to be optimistic". Well, let's hope this is true.

Image: Pika

On the other side of the Big Puddle, the cold climate loving American Pika has little choice but to scurry farther upslope to beat the heat and find food - a difficult thing to do as global warming deprives its habitat of food sources. In some places, pikas have run out of room to run. If the Pika go, then so will every hawk, eagle, owl, lynx, wolf, badger, wolverine or bear that relies on the Pika as a food source.