QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE COLUMBIA BASIN PYGMY RABBIT DPS LISTING

Q. Why is there concern for the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit?

The number of Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits and active burrows in Washington State has declined dramatically over the past decade. The entire wild Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit population is now considered to consist of fewer than 30 individuals from just one known site. This population segment is imminently threatened by its small population size and fragmentation, coupled with habitat loss, disease, predation, and inbreeding.

Q. What is a Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit?

The Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit has been isolated from other pygmy rabbit populations for thousands of years, is genetically unique, and occupies an unusual ecological setting compared to other pygmy rabbit populations. Pygmy rabbits (Brachylagus idahoensis) are the smallest rabbit in North America. Adults weigh approximately 1 pound and measure less than 1 foot in length. They are one of only two rabbit species in North America that dig their own burrows. Pygmy rabbits are usually found in areas of dense sagebrush cover with relatively deep, loose soils.

Q. Where are Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits found?

Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits historically occurred only in central Washington, including portions of Douglas, Grant, Lincoln, Adams, and Benton Counties. Currently, they are only known from a single site in southern Douglas County.

Q. What is the latest action taken by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) regarding the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit?

On March 5, 2003, the Service listed the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Because of the extreme risk of extinction, this population was given emergency protection under the Act on November 30, 2001, while the Service developed a rule to list the population under normal listing procedures. The Service solicited comments and additional information from the general public, other governmental agencies, the scientific community, industry groups, and other interested parties at the time of the emergency listing.

Q. What areas are included in this final listing?

The accompanying map shows the boundary of the historic range of the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit within Washington. The final rule applies to areas within the historic range of this population segment.

Q. What is a distinct population segment (DPS)? The definition of species under the ESA includes any subspecies of fish, wildlife, or plants, and any distinct population segment of any species of vertebrate fish or wildlife which interbreeds when mature. To be considered a DPS, a population segment must meet two criteria under FWS policy. First, it must be discrete, or separated, from other populations of its species or subspecies. Second, it must be significant, or essential, to the long-term conservation status of its species or subspecies.

Q. How does this pygmy rabbit population meet the DPS definition?

Under Service policy, discreteness may be demonstrated by either, or both, of the following: a) physical, physiological, ecological, behavioral, morphological, or genetic differences between population segments; or b) international governmental boundaries between which differences in regulatory mechanisms exist that are significant with regard to conservation of the species. Since pygmy rabbits do not occur in Canada, the Service did not address the international boundary criterion in the recent listing actions.

The Columbia Basin ecosystem extends from north-central Oregon, east of the Cascade Mountains, up through central Washington and into extreme southern British Columbia, Canada. The population segment of pygmy rabbits in central Washington is believed to have been physically separated from the remainder of the species' range for the past 7,000 to 10,000 years. Based on this information, the Service concluded that this population segment of pygmy rabbits was discrete from the remainder of the species.

The significance of the population segment was assessed and the available information indicated the following: a) there are marked differences in this population's genetic characteristics; b) the population persists in an ecological setting unusual or unique for the species; and c) loss of the population segment would result in a significant gap in the range of the species.

Based on the above information, the Service also concluded that the discrete population segment of pygmy rabbits occurring within the Columbia Basin is significant to the remainder of the species, and thus represents a distinct population segment.

Q. Are there any measures currently being taken to conserve the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit?

In the spring of 2001, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) initiated a captive breeding program for the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit in cooperation with Washington State University and the Oregon Zoo. Sixteen pygmy rabbits were captured from this population as an initial source for captive breeding efforts, and these animals adjusted well to the rearing facilities. Offspring were produced during the spring of 2001 and 2002, while a number of deaths of offspring and adult rabbits have been documented from various causes since the program began. All deaths of the captive pygmy rabbits were investigated and appropriate measures have been implemented to reduce the risk of any capture-related mortality. Currently, there are nineteen Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits in the captive breeding program, and early reproductive behavior has again been observed in 2003. The ultimate goals of this program are to maintain a sufficient number of Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits in captivity to ensure their long-term survival, and to return some of these captive animals back to their native habitats to help reestablish a viable wild population.

The Nature Conservancy and Bureau of Land Management have land acquisition and exchange programs in central Washington, which consider long-term conservation measures for the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit. In addition, the Foster Creek Conservation District is currently developing a Habitat Conservation Plan for private agricultural interests in Douglas County, which harbors the only known remaining sub-population.

Q. Will listing the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit result in any land use restrictions?

The Service is working cooperatively with private landowners to reduce any potential impacts resulting from this listing, and to provide them with regulatory assurances against potential land use restrictions.

A species protected under ESA is protected from "take," which means it is unlawful to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect the species. Therefore, there is some potential for land use restrictions in areas occupied by Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits for practices such as livestock grazing, other agricultural uses, and development. However, on lands where pygmy rabbits currently do not occur, or will not occur in the future, there is no potential for take and no restrictions under the ESA. On federal lands, or non-federal lands where a federal agency retains management authority or discretion, proposed activities are subject to the consultation requirements described under Section 7of the ESA.

Q. What do endangered and threatened mean?

An endangered species is defined as a species that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. A threatened species is one that is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.

Q. What do pygmy rabbits look like?

Pygmy rabbits are slate-gray tipped with brown. They have whitish bellies, cinnamon-brown legs and chests, and short, rounded ears. In general appearance, they may be confused with cottontail rabbits, however, pygmy rabbits have very small tails that lack any white fur, and their tails are nearly unnoticeable in the wild.

Q. What do pygmy rabbits eat?

They depend almost exclusively on sagebrush for food during the winter. From spring through fall, native bunch grasses and forb species (broad-leaved herbaceous plants) are also eaten by Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits along with sagebrush.

Q. What are the next steps for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit?

Currently, the Service participates on a Science Advisory Group, along with representatives from the WDFW, Oregon Zoo, Washington State University, and other experts in rabbit ecology, conservation genetics, and captive breeding. This group will advise the WDFW and the Service during the recovery process, suggesting and approving recovery measures for the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit.

The Service intends that any recovery actions undertaken for the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit will be as accurate and effective as possible. Therefore, the Service is requesting additional information and comments from the general public, other governmental agencies, the scientific community, industry, or any other interested party concerning potential recovery actions for the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit. Comments or additional information may be sent to the Upper Columbia Fish and Wildlife Office, 11103 East Montgomery Drive, Spokane, Washington 99206. The Service will continue to work cooperatively with other federal, state, tribal, and private interests to stabilize and ultimately recover and delist the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit.