Sage-Grouse can prevent Pygmy rabbits from going extinct
By Rachel Bentz
Could Sage-Grouse be the heroes to save pygmy rabbits from extinction? Habitat management areas (HMAs) for Sage-Grouse have designated >580,000 km2 of land. Under this protection, sagebrush habitat is also conserved and protected. Many species also rely on this habitat for survival and under Sage-Grouse protection many species are spared under its umbrella effects. This includes the Pygmy rabbit. Unfortunately, Pygmy rabbits are not under this kind of protection. Both Sage-Grouse and Pygmy rabbits are obligate to Sagebrush communities. They rely on this habitat to live. The sagebrush ecosystem is one of the largest semi-shrub communities and is also the most imperiled and neglected. Eleven states have set aside land for the Sage-Grouse. These HMAs are different from national parks or wildlife refuges because they are more focused on the preservation of the Sage-Grouse population. Pygmy rabbits overlap in nine of the eleven states; however, very few of them have developed conservation plans to protect the Pygmy rabbits. Despite the need for protection, Pygmy rabbits have not been given the proper protection to keep their population going.
How often do Sage-Grouse and Pygmy rabbits coexist?
Sage-Grouse HMAs provide information on where they are located, but there is little information on the exact locations of Pygmy rabbits. The study area covered land in Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, and Utah. To pinpoint areas occupied by Pygmy rabbits, researchers used datasets provided by state wildlife agencies, natural heritage programs and biologists. To exclude any bias or error, researchers only used data that were reliable not questionable, only sightings after 2000, and spatial accuracy. For the study, they used 10,420 location records. Researchers also used data on soil, vegetation, and climate to be sure Pygmy rabbits were occupying these areas. With both species locations, researchers could see their overlap.
The minimum occupied area (MOA) for Pygmy rabbits was calculated to be 28,367 km2. Of that, 26,097 km2 is within Sage-Grouse HMAs. About 95% of the MOA for Pygmy rabbits is under protection, but this is only a minimum. From records, Pygmy rabbits’s primary habitat is 132,189 km2. There is also 224,820 km2 of suitable habitat, but Pygmy rabbits usually do not occupy these areas. Suitable habitat includes corridors and space between their primary habitats. Most of their primary and suitable habitats falls within HMAs for Sage-Grouse, but some small populations are not protected.
So why are Pygmy rabbits still going extinct?
There are many factors that play a role in the potential extinction of Pygmy rabbits. Climate change is one of the main reasons. As the temperature rises, sagebrush communities will suffer. In general, these communities will shrink and dry out due to less precipitation. Sagebrush also cannot recover quickly. It can take over 50 years to recover and these rabbits don’t have that kind of time. Pygmy rabbits rely on soft soil to dig their burrows and also need big sage brushes for shade and protection. They also are poor dispersers. Pygmy rabbit ranges are highly fragmented and there is little movement between them. Individuals in small areas will be pushed out of their range and may be unable to find a new one. Humans are another reason Pygmy rabbits will die off. As urbanization and farmlands expand, they begin to eat away at what’s left of Pygmy rabbit habitat. Humans will take their water and land, while causing disturbance that puts stress on these rabbits. On top of that, some states are becoming more relaxed about regulating areas for Sage-Grouse. Utah has even reduced the amount of land protected. If Sage-Grouse HMAs are taken away, many species will suffer. Species that cannot get state and federal protection, rely on Sage-Grouse land to survive.
What can we do to save the Pygmy rabbit?
The first step is to get state and federal protection under the Endangered Species act. With this, areas where Sage-Grouse and Pygmy rabbits don’t coexist, they can still be protected. With that, Sage-Grouse protection needs to be kept a priority. Regulations need to be enforced and land needs to be set aside. If Sage-Grouses are no longer protected, many species will go extinct. Another solution is to protect the Sagebrush community. With a huge area and several species relying on it, sagebrush ecosystems need to be preserved and protected. Without them, obligate species will go extinct. If the ecosystem can be kept healthy, both Sage-Grouse and Pygmy rabbits can survive. The sooner the government and the community press these problems, the less likely Pygmy rabbits will go extinct in 60 years. It’s up to us, humans, to save the Pygmy rabbit!
References
Smith et al (2019) Habitat specialists as conservation umbrellas: Do areas managed for greater sage-grouse also protect pygmy rabbits? Ecosphere 10: e02927.
