Pygmy Rabbit

Pygmy Rabbit sitting below a branch. Photograph by Betsy Demay             Pygmy rabbits are typically found in areas of tall, dense sagebrush cover, and are highly dependent on sagebrush to provide both food and shelter throughout the year. Their diet in the winter consists of up to 99 percent sagebrush.      The pygmy rabbit is believed to be one of only two in Northern America that digs its own burrows. Pygmy rabbit burrows are typically found in relatively deep, loose soils of wind-borne or water-born origin. They occasionally make use of burrows abandoned by other species and as a result, may occur in areas of shallower or more compact soils that support sufficient shrub cover.      The pygmy rabbit historical range includes portions of California, Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and Washington. On March 5, 2003, the Columbia Basin Distinct Population Segment of the pygmy rabbit was listed as endangered in the state of Washington.      Habitat loss and fragmentation caused by conversion of sagebrush rangeland to agriculture, development, including oil and gas production, and wildfire frequency in some areas. How to Help:      Citizens can adopt a Pygmy Rabbit to save one in real life, reach out to their political leaders to spread the word about the state of the pygmy rabbit, and stay informed by following alerts about the pygmy rabbit's condition.