Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbit Kelley Dowdrick

Saving The Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbit

By: Kelley Dowdrick

March 5, 2018

Pygmy rabbit in a breeding enclosure in central Washington’s shrub steppe. Photo by Katie Remine/Woodland Park Zoo. Retrieved  on March 5, 2018 from http://blog.zoo.org/2017/08/conservation-collaborations-emerge.html

What is the Pygmy Rabbit:

Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits are small endangered mammals that live across the North Western United States deserts, specifically in the Columbia Basin. As stated in the 2011 Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbit Reintroduction and Genetic Management Plan, these rabbits are quite small, with grown adults weighing under one pound and being between nine to twelve inches long. Their round bodies are covered by dense fur, ranging in colors of soft grey to rich brown (Becker, Hays & Sayler, 2011). 

Pygmy rabbits are crepuscular, being that they are awake during dawn and dusk. During the day time and late nights, they stay in the burrows that they have dug underneath their main food source, sagebrush (Pygmy Rabbit- Brachylagus, n.d.). They are lower on the food chain, with a number of predators, such as coyotes and weasels, being prevalent in the area (Pygmy Rabbit- Brachylagus, n.d.).

The Columbia Basin, as stated in the name of the animal, is where these rabbits can be found. This is a basin that spans across much of Nevada and Washington, with some reach in the neighboring states. The purple shading on the map below illustrates where these rabbits are typically found.  

Pygmy Rabbit — Brachylagus idahoensis.  Montana Field Guide.  Montana Natural Heritage Program and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.  Retrieved on March 5, 2018, from http://FieldGuide.mt.gov/speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=AMAEB04010

Why are they going extinct?

Sagebrush is used as a main food source and a place to build homes for these rabbits. Intricate burrows are dug underneath this plant as a suitable place to escape harsh desert summers and winters(WAFWO-Pygmy Rabbit, n.d.). Pygmy rabbits rely on this plant for sustenance, especially in winter months when up to 99% of their diet comes from it (WAFWO-Pygmy Rabbit, n.d.). Over the past decades, this plants has been destroyed to make way for growing cities and farms, causing a fragmentation of the populations in the area. As smaller populations began to form, genetic diversity declines (Clark, 2009). Now these rabbits not only had a smaller food supply, but were also much worse at fighting off diseases. 

To learn more about the destruction and conservation efforts of sagebrush from this region, please visit the link below.

Saving the Sagebrush Sea

Moody Summer Sunset In The High Desert Of Nevada With Sagebrush And Tall Grass is a photograph by Brian Ball which was uploaded on December 11th, 2016. Retrieved on March 5, 2018 from https://fineartamerica.com/featured/moody-summer-sunset-in-the-high-desert-of-nevada-with-sagebrush-and-tall-grass-brian-ball.html

One main way that the population decline of this animal was tracked was by using the Columbia Basin in Washington as an area for monitoring. In 1990, it was determined that this species was threatened. However, the issue grew and in just four years, from 1997 to 2001, it was observed that “five of the six populations disappeared” from the area (Becker, Hays & Sayler, 2011). 

It was clear from such great loss of population that these animals would likely need help to remain a part of this planet. Their lack of genetic diversity, predation from neighboring animals and the pinnacle loss of habitat are the main reasons that this animal was listed as endangered in 2003 (Pygmy Rabbit, n.d.).

The Recovery Plan:

By joining the endangered species group, it was time to define a plan on how to help improve the survival rates and population growth of the pygmy rabbit. The 2012 Recovery Plan, issued by the United States Fish and Wildlife Services, outlines the type of work that should be done in pursuing the protection of the remaining population for the pygmy population.

The first step for this recovery program is to implement captive breeding (Recovery Plan for, n.d.). This is an important base to start with because it will help to not only grow the overall population, but also expand the genetic diversity of the species. Once captive breeding has risen the number of pygmy rabbits being born, these groups can be reintroduced into the wild to begin populating the new, better suited areas on their own (Recovery Plan for, n.d.). This is a cycle that can be continuously used until the population is strong and diverse enough to sustain itself.

What can you do?

The recovery of this animal doesn’t end there though. It is easy for all of us to apply conservation strategies everyday. Some easy steps that can be taken are as follows:

• When exploring nature, hikers should be make an effort to stay on the path which helps to protect vegetation in the area. 
• Wild fires can have detrimental impacts on dry areas, such as deserts. Hot logs, burning coals and open fires should never be left unattended.

By being mindful of simple effects like these, we can all play a part in helping animals like the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit thrive. 

Learn More:

Learning about the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit doesn't need to stop here! You can learn more by watching the video below, by Brian Clark from Washington State University. 

Work Cited

Becker, P., Hays, D., & Sayler, R. (2011). 2011 Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbit Reintroduction and Genetic Management Plan. Retrieved March 05, 2018, from https://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01348/wdfw01348.pdf

[Clark, Brian]. (2009, January 29). Pygmy Rabbit Research and Conservation at Washington State University [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJmzkqANzRU

Moody Summer Sunset In The High Desert Of Nevada With Sagebrush And Tall Grass is a photograph by Brian Ball which was uploaded on December 11th, 2016. Retrieved on March 5, 2018 from https://fineartamerica.com/featured/moody-summer-sunset-in-the-high-desert-of-nevada-with-sagebrush-and-tall-grass-brian-ball.html

Pygmy Rabbit — Brachylagus idahoensis.  Montana Field Guide.  Montana Natural Heritage Program and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.  Retrieved on March 5, 2018, from http://FieldGuide.mt.gov/speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=AMAEB04010

Pygmy rabbit in a breeding enclosure in central Washington’s shrub steppe. Photo by Katie Remine/Woodland Park Zoo. Retrieved  on March 5, 2018 from http://blog.zoo.org/2017/08/conservation-collaborations-emerge.html

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (n.d.). Pygmy rabbit. Retrieved March 05, 2018, from https://www.fws.gov/nevada/nv_species/pygmy_rabbit.html

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (2012). Recovery Plan for the Columbia Basin Distinct Population Segment of the Pygmy Rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis). Portland, Oregon. ix + 109 pp. Retrieved March 05, 2018 from https://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/Columbia%20Basin%20Pygmy%20Rabbit%20Final%20RP.pdf

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (n.d.) WAFWO - Pygmy Rabbit (Columbia Basin DPS). Retrieved March 05, 2018, from  https://www.fws.gov/wafwo/articles.cfm?id=149489590