Pygmy rabbit facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pygmy rabbit |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Brachylagus
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| Species: |
idahoensis
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| pygmy rabbit range (blue – native, pink – reintroduced) |
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The pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis) is a tiny North American rabbit. You can find it in the desert areas of the Great Basin and Montana.
This rabbit is the smallest type of leporid (a family that includes rabbits and hares) in the world! An adult pygmy rabbit usually weighs about 375 to 500 grams (about 0.8 to 1.1 pounds). It is about 23.5 to 29.5 centimeters (9.3 to 11.6 inches) long. Female rabbits are a little bigger than males.
Pygmy rabbits look different from other rabbits. They have a small size, short ears, and a gray color. Their hind legs are also small. Unlike many other rabbits, they do not have any white fur on their tail.
Contents
Where Pygmy Rabbits Live
Pygmy rabbits mostly live in areas with lots of sagebrush. This plant is very important to them. They use sagebrush for food and for shelter. They dig their burrows (underground homes) in the deep soil found under sagebrush plants. These burrows help them stay safe from predators and bad weather.
They are found in states like Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana. Each area might have slightly different conditions, but sagebrush is always key.
What Pygmy Rabbits Eat
Pygmy rabbits are mostly herbivores, meaning they eat plants. Their favorite food is sagebrush. In fact, sagebrush makes up most of their diet, especially in winter. They rely on it so much that they often live only where sagebrush is plentiful.
Sometimes, they also eat other plants like grasses and weeds. This happens more in the spring and summer when these plants are fresh and growing.
Who Hunts Pygmy Rabbits
Pygmy rabbits have many animals that hunt them. Weasels are one of their main predators. Other animals that hunt pygmy rabbits include coyotes, red foxes, badgers, bobcats, owls, and hawks.
Because they are so small, pygmy rabbits need to be very careful. They often stay close to their burrows or hide in thick sagebrush to avoid being caught.
Protecting Pygmy Rabbits
One special group of pygmy rabbits, called the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit, is in danger. The U.S. Federal government lists them as an endangered species. This means there are very few of them left in the wild.
These specific rabbits only live naturally in the Columbia Basin area of Washington State. Sadly, the last purebred male Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit died in 2006. The last purebred female died in 2008.
To help save their genes, scientists are working hard. Programs at the Oregon Zoo, Washington State University, and Northwest Trek are trying to breed the remaining females with Idaho pygmy rabbits. This helps keep some of their unique genes alive. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature lists the entire species as "lower risk," but the Columbia Basin group still needs a lot of help.
Images for kids
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A pygmy rabbit in its natural habitat.
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Map showing where pygmy rabbits live.
See also
In Spanish: Conejo pigmeo para niños
