The quest to save the pint-sized hopper of the West just got an update and Washington wants you to chime in. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has rolled out a draft review of the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit, and they're keeping the welcome mat out for public opinion until August 27. These are no ordinary bunnies; they were almost history by 2004. But thanks to some matchmaking via captive breeding and a relocation bonanza, they’ve got a shot at bouncing back.
Washington's pocket-sized rabbits haven't hit the benchmarks of population, distribution, or security to hop down from the endangered list. "Since pygmy rabbits have not reached population, distribution, or security criteria for downlisting, WDFW staff recommend the species remain state listed as endangered," Gerald Hayes, a biologist said, as per the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. And here's the opportunity: for anyone with a say on this, written comments can be zipped over via email or snail-mailed to WDFW's Taylor Cotten.
This isn't just a critter kerfuffle, it’s a fight against oblivion for North America's teeniest rabbit. Imagine, a rabbit that could chill with your average cup of joe. Living amidst the sagebrush of Washington's shrubsteppe, this unique bunny has won the dubious honor of being federally protected because there just aren't enough leaping about the desert. Their sad saga is compounded by threats from habitat destruction and climate shenanigans. WDFW isn't taking this lightly, they're neck-deep in the science and sociology of species survival.
The pygmy rabbit deliberations will reach the halls of power soon enough. "Following the public comment period, we will finalize the Periodic Status Review and brief the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission on the recommendation," noted Cotten, who manages the conservation assessment section at the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. The Commission is set to chew over the topic come fall of 2024. Every voice matters in the upcoming public feedback sessions, with WDFW rolling out the red carpet to people of every stripe – bringing your race, sex, age, origin, religion, or disability to the table won't change your chance to serve up an opinion.
