Rabbits to be bred to restore wild pygmies

Associated Press

EATONVILLE — Wildlife biologists are hoping that four tiny bunnies will do what rabbits are supposed to and help restore the diminishing pygmy rabbit population in Eastern Washington.

Allie, Timothy, Juniper and Artemis were brought from Idaho to the Northwest Trek wildlife park on Tuesday.

Wildlife officials plan to study the four pygmy rabbits’ eating, breeding and other characteristics. The rabbits also will be given plentiful opportunities to reproduce youngsters.

Officials at the park east of Tacoma don’t plan to release the rabbits or their offspring into the wild. To avoid the stress of visitors, the rabbits will not be on public display.

An estimated dozen pygmy rabbits are left in Washington. The state has listed the smallest rabbit in North America as an endangered species, and the federal government is considering whether to classify the rabbits as threatened or endangered, according to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The state’s unique strain of pygmy rabbits has been hurt by agriculture, wildfires and predators. Once found in five Eastern Washington counties, the rabbits have been squeezed to a small site at Sagebrush Flat near Ephrata, wildlife biologists say.

Trek officials will work with the wildlife department and the Oregon Zoo.

"Hopefully this is just the beginning of a constant, ongoing relationship with the Department of Fish and Wildlife where we can continue to help them with recovery programs for endangered species," said Northwest Trek deputy director Dave Ellis.

Most of Washington’s native pygmy rabbit population was captured last May and taken to Washington State University for breeding and eventual rerelease to the wild. The state’s five-year plan calls for 100 rabbits to be released from its breeding sites each year.

Three of the rabbits for the study were captured in Idaho and the other was born at the Oregon Zoo in Portland, said David Hays, an endangered-species biologist for the state.

The rabbits will live in their own cages in a 16-by-24-foot hutch, built with a $5,000 donation from the Northwest Trek Foundation. Their new home is complete with drainage pipes to provide burrows and newly planted sagebrush, a favored meal.

"Those little sagebrush bundles are going to look very realistic to the rabbits," Hays said. "The rabbits are really going to like this."

Copyright ©2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Firefighters respond to a 911 call on July 16, 2024, in Mill Creek. Firefighters from South County Fire, Tulalip Bay Fire Department and Camano Island Fire and Rescue left Wednesday to help fight the LA fires. (Photo provided by South County Fire)
Help is on the way: Snohomish County firefighters en route to LA fires

The Los Angeles wildfires have caused at least 180,000 evacuations. The crews expect to arrive Friday.

x
Edmonds police shooting investigation includes possibility of gang violence

The 18-year-old victim remains in critical condition as of Friday morning.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River. Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council approves water, sewer rate increases

The 43% rise in combined water and sewer rates will pay for large infrastructure projects.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

Pharmacist Nisha Mathew prepares a Pfizer COVID booster shot for a patient at Bartell Drugs on Broadway on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett lawmakers back universal health care bill, introduced in Olympia

Proponents say providing health care for all is a “fundamental human right.” Opponents worry about the cost of implementing it.

Outside of the updated section of Lake Stevens High School on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 in Lake Stevens, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lake Stevens, Arlington school measures on Feb. 11 ballot

A bond in Lake Stevens and a levy in Arlington would be used to build new schools.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.