EPHRATA, Wash. — Wildlife managers are monitoring 32 endangered pygmy rabbits that were evacuated from a state-managed breeding facility scorched by a wildfire last week in Douglas County near Quincy.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists were searching for survivors on Thursday.
About 70 other rabbits died on June 28 when the Sutherland Canyon wildfire overran the breeding compound operated by WDFW.
The fire, sparked by a lightning strike, burned nearly 30,000 acres in Douglas and Grant counties before it was contained July 3.
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The survivors have been transported to two other WDFW breeding compounds, both within about 20 miles from Beezley Hills. In all, Monda estimates that WDFW is now sheltering about 100 pygmy rabbits at those facilities.
Small enough to fit in a person’s hand, pygmy rabbits lived in the shrub-steppe of central Washington for more than 100,000 years. But the population has declined due primarily to the loss of native habitat.
By 2001, there were only 16 known pygmy rabbits in Washington state. The species was listed as endangered under state law in 1993 and under the federal Endangered Species Act in 2003.
WDFW is accepting donations to help support recovery efforts for pygmy rabbits in Washington state. Checks designated for “pygmy rabbit restoration” may be sent to Fiscal Office, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, PO Box 43160, Olympia WA 98504-3160.
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