Originally published March 7, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified March 7, 2007 at 2:03 AM
Pygmy rabbits returning to the wild
An emergency effort to save endangered Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits will get its first test next week when state and federal scientists...
The Associated Press
SPOKANE — An emergency effort to save endangered Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits will get its first test next week when state and federal scientists release nearly two dozen of the animals back into their native habitat in north-central Washington.
The rabbits that will be released Tuesday are the product of an emergency roundup six years ago of the remaining pygmy rabbits in the region, who were put into a captive-breeding program in a last-ditch effort to increase their numbers.
"This is the first reintroduction, so it's a learning process," said Tom Buckley of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Spokane. "We want to see how they react to the wild coming out of a captive breeding environment."
About 23 pygmy rabbits will be released on a state wildlife area in Douglas County. The rabbits will be placed in artificial burrows for cover until they dig their own burrows and will wear tiny radio transmitters around their necks, allowing biologists to monitor their movements.
"We're committed to preventing the loss of the pygmy rabbit from our state's diverse wildlife heritage," said Jeff Koenings, director of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. "Extinction is not an option."
More than 70 pygmy rabbits will remain in the captive breeding program to provide animals for future releases. The program has placed breeding rabbits at the Oregon Zoo in Portland, Northwest Trek near Tacoma and at Washington State University in Pullman.
The Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit is the country's smallest native rabbit, according to a news release from the state and federal agencies. It was listed as a state endangered species in 1993.
By 2001, there were fewer than 40 pygmy rabbits left in the Sagebrush Flat area of Douglas County. In 2003, the Columbia Basin population was federally listed as an endangered species.
Biologists for the state captured 16 of the remaining Columbia Basin rabbits in 2001-02. Captive breeding started in 2002.
UPDATE - 09:46 AM
Exxon Mobil wins ruling in Alaska oil spill case
NEW - 7:51 AM
Longview man says he was tortured with hot knife
Longview man says he was tortured with hot knife
Longview mill spills bleach into Columbia River
NEW - 8:00 AM
More extensive TSA searches in Sea-Tac Airport rattle some travelers
![]()

Entertainment | Top Video | World | Offbeat Video | Sci-Tech
nwautos
Turismo upgrade "Gran Turismo 5: XL Edition" for PlayStation 3 has features such as new car-tuning settings, new NASCAR vehicles, better replay video...
Post a comment
- Council members get briefing on arena proposal, minus details
- Lakewood cop accused of embezzling $150K meant for slain officers' families
- Social worker recounts minutes before Powell fire
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- Agency set to investigate handling of 911 call about Josh Powell
- Quick decisions: How Washington hired its new football staff
- Historic day for gay marriage as another fight looms
- Washington men walloped by Oregon, 82-57
- Justin Wilcox's versatile defensive style is the right fit for Huskies | Jerry Brewer
- It's Terrence Time: Enigmatic Ross leads Huskies
- Gay-marriage bill passes House, awaits Gregoire's signature
507 - Wanted in Seattle classrooms: more teachers of color
413 - AP Source: Obama to change birth control rule
399 - Council members get briefing on arena proposal, minus details
373 - Oregon live game thread
155 - Worker: Josh Powell told son he had 'surprise'
116 - Rough road again
109 - A few late-night notes
98 - USA Today further spells out how Mariners, handful of clubs next in line for huge cash windfall
76 - Marijuana legalization initiative set to go on Nov. ballot
75
- Wanted in Seattle classrooms: more teachers of color
- State Medicaid program to stop paying for unneeded ER visits
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- Economy, blogs give survivalists new reason to look to Northwest
- Bellevue College adds a third bachelor's degree program
- State's share of mortgage settlement: $648 million
- Darren Berg gets 18-year sentence for Ponzi scheme
- One man's audacious pursuit of sailing history
- $25B settlement reached over foreclosure abuses
- 'Gauguin and Polynesia': dazzling mix-and-match | Art review







