Conservation Northwest and WDFW Collaborate to Boost Washington's Pygmy Rabbit Population
Conservation Northwest, in partnership with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), is actively working to restore the critically threatened pygmy rabbit population in Washington State. This collaboration, part of Conservation Northwest's Sagelands Heritage Program, focuses on restoring shrub-steppe habitat and addressing threats such as invasive species, habitat fragmentation, and loss. The pygmy rabbit population had dwindled to just a few dozen individuals in the early 2000s, but through dedicated conservation efforts, the population has rebounded to over 150 rabbits. These efforts include careful population monitoring, research, conservation breeding, release programs, and long-term stewardship of their ecosystems. A recent highlight involved a 5-year-old girl named Kirby, who raised money for the cause by selling popsicles and was subsequently invited to observe pygmy rabbit biologists in the field near Ephrata, Washington, witnessing health checks and vaccinations of young rabbits.
