Wildlife Challege Coin

The American pika is considered an indicator species for detecting ecological effects of climate change. Research suggests that pikas are being lost from lower elevations in some areas in response to increased warming. Ongoing monitoring helps to track pika populations and identify factors that may help contribute to their persistence at Lassen Volcanic.

The Cascades frog is a medium-sized frog about the size of a small avocado. They are brown in color, with inky black spots on their back and legs, and a cream-colored upper lip and belly. Webbed back toes help them swim in the clear mountain lakes and streams they call home.

In 2025, biologists from Washington State University, the National Park Service, the US Forest Service, and private companies reintroduced the Cascades frog to Lassen Volcanic National Park.