PORTLAND, Ore. — If you're ever hiking out between Angel’s Rest and Viento State Park near the Columbia River and happen to hear a squeaky toy, you've probably just heard one of Oregon's most adorable little critters: the American pika.

These potato-sized mammals, best known for their cute looks and distinctive calls, are close relatives of rabbits and hares — not rodents (or Pokémon ). While pikas usually live on isolated mountain slopes, there's actually a sizeable population in the Columbia River Gorge just 30 minutes away from Portland.

Pikas are considered a “species of conservation concern” in Oregon. They’re not federally listed as endangered, but they're still sensitive to climate change and other environmental pressures.

This year, the Oregon Zoo's Cascades Pika Watch came

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