Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbits by Victoria Plumb
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| Photograph of Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbits in hands. Oregon Zoo, https://www.oregonzoo.org/gallery/tags/columbia-basin-pygmy-rabbit |
Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis)
Description and Ecology
The Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbit is part of the Leporidae family,
which includes hares and rabbits. Pygmy rabbits are the smallest leporid in
North America with a length of 9.3 to 11.6 inches and a weight of .83 to 1.1
pounds. Due to their small size, pygmy rabbits are easy to distinguish from
other rabbits. They are also easy to distinguish from other rabbits because of
their short ears, gray color, small hind legs and lack of white on the tail.
Their features consist of a gray body with brown tips. Their legs, chest, back
of neck are cinnamon brown, stomachs are white, and they have pale gray ears.
Pygmy rabbits are usually in the semiarid shrubs of the Great Basin and the mountainous areas of the western United States. The Great Basin includes Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, California, Oregon and Washington. The Columbia Basin is a geographic area of northern Oregon through eastern Washington; the pygmy rabbit population in the Columbia Basin is primarily in Washington. The pygmy rabbits are also one of two rabbits that dig their own borrow. Pygmy rabbits are usually found in a broad distribution rather than being continuously populated throughout this area. This is due to pygmy rabbits looking for suitable habitats in the region and will shift locations if there are natural disasters or changes in weather. Due to the growth of human presence in the region, the pygmy rabbit has dispersed from their local populations. One piece of information most people do not know is that the pygmy rabbit has been in the Columbia Basin for over 100,000 years. The reason why they like this geographic location is that it has had an abundance of sagebrush, which is the pygmy rabbits’ habitat and food supply. Pygmy rabbits specifically thrive in the tall and dense parts of this environment because it provides both food and shelter throughout the year. Climate change has resulted in the reduction of the sagebrush, which has hurt pygmy rabbit populationsin the Columbia Basin.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature considers all pygmy rabbits as a concern, but specifically the population in Washington (the Columbia Basin) is endangered. The pygmy rabbit originally was listed as a threatened species by the Washington Wildlife Commission in 1990, then in 1993, the Commision declared pygmy rabbits as endangered. In 2001, the pygmy population in Washington had only one colony of less than 50 rabbits. The last known wild subpopulation of the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit is supposedly been extirpated in 2004. The last purebred Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit died in the Oregon Zoo in Portland on March 30th, 2006. The current total population of the genetic hybrid (with the Idaho pygmy rabbit) of Washington pygmy rabbits is 250 with the other four out of the five areas having less than 150 rabbits. Scientists, however, are unsure of the pygmy rabbits’ overall population in the Great Basin.
The first threat is: the habitat being destructed or modified. The Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits want sagebrush, but due to dry land and agriculture their habitats have been fragmented or converted for human activities. It is estimated that 60% of the native shrubs habitats in the Columbia Basin have been changed. As mentioned, the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit likes to be dispersed throughout an area so having smaller places of their habitat farther apart has resulted in them having a limited ability to travel.
The Recovery Plan for the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits has three phases: removal or containment of all threats to prevent extinction; reestablishing the population and distribution of the free-ranging species; and establishment and protection of free ranging population who can survive against long term threats. At the time of the emergency listing in 2001, the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits had small populations, low genetic diversity, and inbreeding depression along with habitat loss in the wild. In order to address habitat destruction or modification the sagebrush habitats will also be monitored and managed so the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit can thrive. This will include reducing the risk of fires and trying to remove invasive species. Also, conservationists will be looking for new places for where the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit can make new homes.
In general, there is a lot of information that conservationists do not know about the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits, so they will also be monitoring the population either in captivity or a partially controlled areas in the wild. While doing this research, scientists will also have to make sure the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit has good population numbers. This means that there is a good portion of the population in age, genetic diversity, and gender released in the wild. Conservationists have done this by having a breeding program, which leads to a reintroduction program. In order to stop predation and disease, specifically, scientists will have a control program, so the rabbits can be exposed to these threats and be able to fight against them. Volunteers will also help protect the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits’ new burrows. The ultimate goal of the Federal recovery planning is to recover the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits, so they are no longer in need of protection under the ESA.
Geographic and Population Changes
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Map of distribution of Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbits.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife,
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Listing Date and Type of Listing
On November 30th 2001, the US Fish and Wildlife Service listed the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Therefore, only the pygmy rabbits in Washington were categorized as endangered. The current recovery priority number for the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit is 6 on a scale from 1 being the highest priority to 18 being the lowest priority. This ranking of the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit is based on its threat degree, its potential for recovery, and how easy it would be to implement the recovery action plan. On September 26, 2007, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service wanted the legal protection for all pygmy rabbits as an endangered or threatened species, but this request was declined so it remains only the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit.
The 5 Main Threats to Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbit Population
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| Photograph of sagebrush habitat in Horse Heaven Hills, WA. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. https://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/research/projects/shrubsteppe/ |
Some other factors hurting their habitat are frequent fires, invasive species, human recreational activities, and livestock eating sagebrush. Unfortunately for Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits sagebrush burns really easily and fire frequency has been increasing in the Columbia Basin. The Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits rely on tall brushes for shelter, so they cannot survive without the sagebrush nor in burned areas. There have also been some invasive plant species such as cheatgrass and knapweed, which also help fuel fires. The advent road access to their habitats for people, non-native plant species causing bigger fires, and lack of tall brushes are the reasons why the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits’ habitats are having difficulty supporting them. When Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits are able to establish their burrows, sometimes livestock might damage their burrows and might trample them because they are so small. Humans can also step on them or human activity can attract predators.
The second threat is: the potential of inappropriate recreational hunting, scientific and education management activities. Pygmy rabbits look very similar to cottontail rabbits and because of this there are some accidental shootings. Additionally, some hunters are using hunting dogs, which also causes problems for the rabbits. Overall these threats are not too frequent. Some educational management of trapping and relocating of pygmy rabbits have also resulted in small percept of death and injuries for the rabbits. Capture-related deaths are roughly 3 to 13 percent.
The third threat is: disease and predation. Pygmy rabbits usually have a lot of parasites like ticks, fleas, and lice who all carry diseases. Overall, disease epidemics have not been reported nor have parasites been labeled a significant risk factor; however, it is hard to detect disease in wild animals. The disease that the pygmy rabbits do get usually come from soil or feces. Pygmy rabbits might also lack genetic diversity, which makes them more vulnerable to disease.
Predation is said to be the major cause of mortality for pygmy rabbits. Some of these predators include weasels, who prey on them the most, coyotes, red foxes, badgers, bobcats, great horned owls and marsh hawks. Due to pygmy rabbits very small size and localized population predation happens everywhere they travel, which is main issue for reestablishing their populations.
The fourth threat is: the rabbits are not protected all the time. Even though the Washington Wildlife Commission says one cannot hunt, possess, kill nor destroy their habitats, the Commision does not have regulatory protection. Therefore, people and other animals could still harm them.
The fifth threat is: the rabbits have a really small population size, which results in their population being highly susceptible to random environment events. This means that abrupt changes in cover or food, demographic or genetic limitation, sex ratios, and reproduction can easily dictate the population size. Therefore, scientists have to make sure that captive breeding programs are successful in order to assure the population can continue.
To summarize, habitat loss and fragmentation of sagebrush are the main reasons for the declining populations. These factors alone, however, cannot be the only reason why, which is why there are five main threats.
Description of Recovery Plan
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Photograph of Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit in Washington, USA.
Demay, Betsy. The National Wildlife Federation,
11 Mar. 2013, https://goo.gl/LKwq6W
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In general, there is a lot of information that conservationists do not know about the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits, so they will also be monitoring the population either in captivity or a partially controlled areas in the wild. While doing this research, scientists will also have to make sure the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit has good population numbers. This means that there is a good portion of the population in age, genetic diversity, and gender released in the wild. Conservationists have done this by having a breeding program, which leads to a reintroduction program. In order to stop predation and disease, specifically, scientists will have a control program, so the rabbits can be exposed to these threats and be able to fight against them. Volunteers will also help protect the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits’ new burrows. The ultimate goal of the Federal recovery planning is to recover the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits, so they are no longer in need of protection under the ESA.
What can you do?
As of 2010, the Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbit is not protected by the Endangered Species Act. In order to create awareness for this animal, we must make this species known to the general public. As of now, there are no petitions aiming to save the species, so we have to create petitions to help protect the rabbits and their habitats from being devastated. Without their homes in sagebrush, the rabbits’ small bodies are vulnerable to injury and death. One thing you can do if you live in Washington is not disturb the Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbits’ habitats and not leave fires unattended. You can also volunteer to get rid of invasive species of plants, or move the rabbits from their burnt habitats into a new one. Additionally, you can donate to the Oregon Zoo. Furthermore, you can support the Recovery Plan for the Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbit conducted by the Fish and Wildlife Service.
As of 2010, the Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbit is not protected by the Endangered Species Act. In order to create awareness for this animal, we must make this species known to the general public. As of now, there are no petitions aiming to save the species, so we have to create petitions to help protect the rabbits and their habitats from being devastated. Without their homes in sagebrush, the rabbits’ small bodies are vulnerable to injury and death. One thing you can do if you live in Washington is not disturb the Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbits’ habitats and not leave fires unattended. You can also volunteer to get rid of invasive species of plants, or move the rabbits from their burnt habitats into a new one. Additionally, you can donate to the Oregon Zoo. Furthermore, you can support the Recovery Plan for the Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbit conducted by the Fish and Wildlife Service.
Video for awareness of the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit. “Saving the Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbit.” Youtube, Oregon Zoo, 6 Nov. 2017,
Resources - Learn More
World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA)
Breeding and Reintroduction Program for the
Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit:
Fish and Wildlife Service (Specifically in
Washington)
historic information and information about
conservation
Fish and Wildlife Service (Specifically in
Oregon)
historic information and information about
conservation
Oregon Zoo
How the zoo is fighting extinction for the
Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit:
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Summary and PDF of the Washington State
Recovery Plan for the Pygmy Rabbit
https://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/00275/
https://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/00275/
Works
Cited
“BLM Firefighters Rescue
Pygmy Rabbits from Wildfire.” KTVB, 13 July 2017, www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/regional/blm-firefighters-rescue-pygmy-rabbits-from-wildfire/456118302.
“Columbia Basin Pygmy
Rabbit (Brachylagus Idahoensis).” US Fish and Wildlife Service,
ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/profile/speciesProfile?spcode=A0GG.
“Columbia Basin Pygmy
Rabbits.” Oregon Zoo, www.oregonzoo.org/conserve/fighting-extinction-pacific-northwest/columbia-basin-pygmy-rabbits.
“Pygmy Rabbit.” Washington's
Nature Mapping Program,
“Saving the Columbia
Basin Pygmy Rabbit.” Youtube, Oregon Zoo, 6 Nov. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TIqvk2AC2o.
Waza. “Pygmy Rabbit Breeding and Reintroduction
Project.” WAZA: World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, WAZA, www.waza.org/en/site/conservation/waza-conservation-projects/overview/pygmy-rabbit-breeding-and-reintroduction-project.
I really appreciate how you clearly distinguished each threats to the Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbit. It's unfortunate there's been a decline in sagebrush due to the arid environment and human activity. We need to raise awareness of the depleting population of the Pygmy rabbit, in addition to finding more areas of sagebrush where they can flourish!
ReplyDeleteJeffrey Phunmongkol
I really liked how extensive your information was. You did a great job breaking down the threats that the pygmy rabbit faces. I was also really surprised by the impact of wildfires on the rabbits. I personally think that climate change and wildfires are very dangerous for wildlife and its just one more reason we need to adapt and change our practices to minimize the impact of climate change.
ReplyDeleteOverall I really liked your piece, you did a very very thorough job.
-William Motluk Bewley
I thought the information provided was not excessive, but was all relevant. This blog made me want to do what I could so that hopefully one day I could see one of these animals in person. I found the part about how they are subject to disease a very interesting thing to include and I also really liked the video included at the end.
ReplyDelete- Skylar Millard
Wow this animal is adorable. It made me so sad that other animals trample them or their burrows!! Poor guys. I also found it interesting that they are one out of two rabbits that actually make their own burrows. Do the other species of rabbits just find burrows already made? Overall, your blog was really extensive and detailed with information. I also appreciate the video at the end!
ReplyDeleteThanks.
Gabi Morgan
I really appreciate the format of your blog post- it made the material easy to read and enjoyable. It interests me how climate change/global warming is affecting this species through frequent fires and drought. As a small species, it makes sense that the pygmy rabbits could lack genetic diversity, which, unfortunately causes disease.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth Neill
I really like in how you go into detail about their main threats to their population. It’s sad knowing that we know that these species is in endangered; however, there is no real protection for them since there is no regulatory protection. As well, for them not being on the Endangered Species Act makes me feel that people will not focus on their protection as much. The creatures are so cute that I hope that their population is protected.
ReplyDelete-Alejandrina Perez
These are so cute! That’s very interesting that there are only two types of rabbits that dig their own burrow. This species has so many factors working against it, its no wonder that it is endangered. Hopefully climate change won’t destroy the rabbits habitat of sagebrush from re-establishing.
ReplyDelete-Jordi Oliver