Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbit - Bailey Barton
Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbit
(Brachylagus idahoensis)
Description and Ecology of Organism
The Columbia
Basin Pygmy rabbit is the smallest species of rabbit in North America. It can
grow up to 11 inches long, but is typically 9-10 inches long. It weighs just 1
pound. The average lifespan in the wild for these rabbits is 3-5 years, but in
a well-cared for indoor environment, they can live 7-10 years. The pygmy rabbit
is one of only two species in North America that digs its own burrow. It lives
in dense, tall sagebrush, and is most commonly found in the Pacific Northwest.
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Image 2: http://www.zooborns.com/zooborns/
2009/10/columbia-basin-pygmy-
rabbits-oregon-zoo-breeding-baby-bunnies.html
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Geographic and Population Changes
The pygmy rabbit is usually found in the Pacific Northwest. The Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit is most common in its native Washington, but it can also be found in Nevada, Idaho, California, Oregon, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming. Within Washington, it is found in Douglas, Grant, Lincoln, and Benton counties. Slowly, the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit is going extinct, and if efforts by conservation groups are unsuccessful, the pygmy rabbit will exist only as other states' distinct types of pygmy, such as the Oregon pygmy rabbit or the Idaho pygmy rabbit, which have subtle genetic variations that differ from that of the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit.
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Image 3: http://mtnhp.org/thumbnail/defaultNoCap.aspx
?img=http://FieldGuide.mt.gov/RangeMaps/
NSRangeMap_AMAEB04010.jpg&maxWidth=600
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The pygmy rabbit is usually found in the Pacific Northwest. The Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit is most common in its native Washington, but it can also be found in Nevada, Idaho, California, Oregon, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming. Within Washington, it is found in Douglas, Grant, Lincoln, and Benton counties. Slowly, the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit is going extinct, and if efforts by conservation groups are unsuccessful, the pygmy rabbit will exist only as other states' distinct types of pygmy, such as the Oregon pygmy rabbit or the Idaho pygmy rabbit, which have subtle genetic variations that differ from that of the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit.
Listing Date and Type of Listing
The Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit was placed on the endangered species list on November 30th, 2001. In 2003, a count was done on the pygmy rabbit and it was determined that less than 30 remained in the wild. The pygmy rabbit is still on the endangered species list today, although numbers have slowly begun to rise.
Cause of Listing and Main Threats to its Continued
Existence:
The Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit was placed on the endangered species list because of predation, introduced diseases, low population size, and habitat loss. The pygmy rabbit is prey for many different animals due to its small size. It is hunted by its main predator weasels, as well as coyotes, red foxes, badgers, bobcats, marsh hawks, and great horned owls. In addition, diseases are easily spread through fleas, ticks, flies, and mosquitoes, which often lead to illness and death for pygmy rabbits. The main threat to its existence, however, is habitat loss. These rabbits rely on sagebrush for both food and shelter throughout the year. Sagebrush (see image 4) is 99% of their diet in the winter and grasses are 30-40% of their diet in summer time. However, much of the sagebrush meadows have been converted into agriculture lands or are being used for oil and natural gas extraction.
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Image 4: http://science.halleyhosting.com/nature/
basin/sun/shrub/artemisia/tridentata/tridentata/
tridentatatrident1a.jpg
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The Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit was placed on the endangered species list because of predation, introduced diseases, low population size, and habitat loss. The pygmy rabbit is prey for many different animals due to its small size. It is hunted by its main predator weasels, as well as coyotes, red foxes, badgers, bobcats, marsh hawks, and great horned owls. In addition, diseases are easily spread through fleas, ticks, flies, and mosquitoes, which often lead to illness and death for pygmy rabbits. The main threat to its existence, however, is habitat loss. These rabbits rely on sagebrush for both food and shelter throughout the year. Sagebrush (see image 4) is 99% of their diet in the winter and grasses are 30-40% of their diet in summer time. However, much of the sagebrush meadows have been converted into agriculture lands or are being used for oil and natural gas extraction.
Description of Recovery Plan
The plan in place
currently is a captive breeding program, that was first introduced in 2001. The
goals of the program are to maintain the genetic diversity of Columbia basin
pygmy rabbits and to provide animals for release and recovery in the state of
Washington. In addition, there is work being done by local communities to
protect and preserve the sagebrush the helps sustain pygmy rabbits. By
protecting the Sagebrush Flats Wildlife Area in Washington, pygmy rabbits have
more food supply and a better chance at thriving in the wild. Part of the recovery is being able to measure recovery efforts through counting rabbits. In doing so, conservationists will mark a young rabbit's ear with colored dye, as seen in Image 1, 2, and 6.
What Can You Do?  |
Image 5: https://www.fws.gov/
wafwo/images/sagebrush.jpg
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Image 6: https://www.oregonzoo.org/sites/default/
files/styles/content-teaser/public/gallery/images/
H_orig_columbia_basin_pygmy_rabbit
_nature_gal.jpg?itok=4Efe3N83
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You can help by writing a letter to local or state government, urging them to protect sagebrush areas that are home to pygmy rabbits. Also, if you are in an area that is local to pygmy rabbits, volunteers are always needed for search parties which go out and count the number of pygmy rabbits currently in existence, in order to measure the success of breeding efforts. Additionally, raising awareness of the pygmy rabbit’s struggles and the importance of protecting sage brush areas is a tremendous help. A great way to raise awareness is through posting on social media, which helps to get the word out and can spread information quickly to large groups of people. Last, you can always make a donation to groups that help protect sage brush habitats and fund pygmy rabbit breeding efforts.
Other Resources
Donate:
https://gifts.worldwildlife.org/gift-center/gifts/Species-Adoptions/Pygmy-Rabbit.aspx
https://www.westernwatersheds.org/resources/sagebrush-habitat-conservation-fund/https://www.conservationfund.org/our-work/natural-capital-investment-fundnode/311
https://www.westernwatersheds.org/resources/sagebrush-habitat-conservation-fund/https://www.conservationfund.org/our-work/natural-capital-investment-fundnode/311
View the Recovery Plan:
https://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/Columbia%20Basin%20Pygmy%20Rabbit%20Final%20RP.pdf
Learn:
https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/profile/speciesProfile?sId=1126
http://www.oregonwild.org/wildlife/pygmy-rabbit
https://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/pygmy_rabbit/
Volunteer:
http://www.washingtonnature.org/fieldnotes/2016/7/18/search-party-for-pygmy-rabbits
Write a Public Official:
https://www.governor.wa.gov/contact/contact/contacting-governors-office
https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Get-to-know-us/Contact-us
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Works Cited
“Meet the World's Smallest Rabbit.” ZooBorns, ZooBorns, 14 Oct. 2009, www.zooborns.com/zooborns/2009/10/columbia-basin-pygmy-rabbits-oregon-zoo-breeding-baby-bunnies.html.
Oransky, Ivan. “What's Killing the Pygmy Rabbit?” The Scientist, LabX Media Group, 1 June 2007, www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/25117/title/What-s-Killing-the-Pygmy-Rabbit-/.
“Pygmy Rabbit.” Nevada Department of Wildlife, Nevada Department of Wildlife, www.ndow.org/Species/Furbearer/Pygmy_Rabbit/.
“Pygmy Rabbit.” Official Web Page of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, www.fws.gov/nevada/nv_species/pygmy_rabbit.html.
“Pygmy Rabbit.” Pygmy Rabbit Facts, Washington NatureMapping Program, naturemappingfoundation.org/natmap/facts/pygmy_rabbit_712.html.
“Pygmy Rabbits in Washington.” Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, June 2015, wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/pygmy_rabbit/.
“Species Profile for Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbit (Brachylagus Idahoensis).” Official Web Page of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/profile/speciesProfile?spcode=A0GG.
I like the detail you went into about how important sagebrush is for their homes and food. The sagebrush is really a "one stop shop" for these little rabbits. Great blog post! -Michael Avila
ReplyDeleteSuch cute creatures! Can't believe they are only 9-10 inches. Glad to hear that their population is slowly growing from their estimated 30 in 2003. - Zamantha Baraceros
ReplyDeleteWow it is scary that the population dropped all the way down to 30. I am surprised they still exist. I can't believe almost all of their diet is just from one plant, sagebrush. I would like to suggest to put the graphics slightly larger. -Chris Berridge
ReplyDeleteSad to hear that their main diet is being removed and they are starving to death! It's a beautiful animal that I hope recovers to its original population numbers! -Audrey Bolesta
ReplyDeleteI am surprised at how small they are. It was interesting to read and see in the pictures how conservationists mark them on the ear like that. It was sad to read about how their habitats with sagebush are being destroyed so quickly.
ReplyDelete-Keaton Bates
These critters are so adorable. Im glad that they are taking a multi step approach to help save them. I think the combination between captive breeding, and protection of their food source and habitat will be really effective in saving their populations.- Grant Baldwin
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting how the smallest species of rabbit in North America is one of two that dig their own burrows. -Guillermo Avilez
ReplyDeleteSo cute and I had no idea they could live for 7-10 years indoors! Grant Anderson
ReplyDeleteI am surprised how small they are!
ReplyDeleteIm surprised how small they are. - Pierson Berry
ReplyDeleteSad to see such a small animal endangered and with a population as low as 30. I think captive breeding would be the way to go to get their population back and off the endangered species list.
ReplyDelete-Shea Blackman