Pygmy Rabbit

Photo Credit: Tom Koerner, US Fish and Wildlife Service

Overview

  • Species Common Name Pygmy Rabbit
  • Species Scientific Name Brachylagus idahoensis
  • Federal Listing Status Species of Concern
  • State Listing Status Sensitive

Ecoregions

Special needs

Pygmy rabbits use tall, dense clumps of basin big sagebrush. They need deep, loose soils for digging burrows and native grasses for summer forage.

Limiting factors

Habitat loss is an important limiting factor for pygmy rabbits. They are patchily distributed and susceptible to local declines. They have limited dispersal capabilities, and dispersal may be further impacted by roads and cleared areas.

Conservation actions

Maintain basin big sagebrush habitat. Provide habitat corridors between priority sites.

Key reference or plan

USGS Annotated Bibliography of Scientific Research on Pygmy Rabbits Published from 1990 to 2020