Travelers’ Advisory: Brachylagus idahoensis

Originally published March 2007 at BFD Blog!

It was announced by authorities in the state of Washington that last week 20 mamalian life forms identfied as Brachylagus idahoensis, which are of the order Lagomorpha, and family Leporidae, left captivity and are roaming free in Washington state. Previously 8 of the animals were being held in Portland, Oregon, and 12 of the animals were held in Pullman, Washington. State Authorities assured the public that 70 of the 90 known remaining Brachylagus idahoensis’ in the world are still under their control, in captivity. All of these animals are descendents of the last 16 remaining Brachylagus idahoensis’ on Earth, which were captured in 2001, which have apparently multiplied since their initial capture.

These animals are known to be foraging some where in the Columbia River basin of Washington state. Travelers to the area should be aware, these animals are known to be prolific tunnel builders, hikers should proceed with caution to avoid falling in to a tunnel trap. These animals are not known to be carnivorous and there are no known reports of attacks on humans, but humans should proceed with caution if encountering this species.

For more information about this escape to the wild by these animals please refer to the article in the Los Angeles Times that you will find here.

To aid the public in identifying these wild animals, the following picture was released by the authorities:

We have since, learned…

Maybe it was not such a great idea. As previously noted at BFD Blog!, 20 Brachylagus idahoensis, commonly known as pygmy rabbits, were returned to the wild by authorities in Washington state. This was an attempt to repopulate the nearly extinct little cuddly guys and gals. It seems, as noted in this piece published by the Los Angeles Times (from an Associated Press report) on April 12, that 14 of the original 20 rabbits released have become some other creatures’ lunch.

“EPHRATA, WASH. — The 20 endangered pygmy rabbits that were reintroduced to the wild with great fanfare last month aren’t faring so well.

Fourteen of the 20 rabbits have been killed by predators.

Only four of the rabbits released March 13 remained at the Sagebrush Flat Wildlife Area, said David Hays, pygmy rabbit coordinator for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Hays said two males were removed earlier this month and will be returned at the end of April. The other 14 rabbits are believed to have fallen victim to predators, mainly coyotes, but also hawks and owls.

The 3,700-acre release site has been watched daily by Department of Fish and Wildlife staff. Several of the rabbits were fitted with GPS monitors.

Of the four rabbits remaining at the site, three are females who could be pregnant, officials said. Hays said the rapid decline in population did not doom the multimillion-dollar project.

More rabbits will be released in the area, he said, and experts are looking for ways to reduce predation.”

One would think it would have previously occured to those highly educated and specialized minds responsible for protecting this species that the reason why the rabbits needed to be reintroduced to their natural environment was a good reason not to do so. We have a suggestion before the rest of the pygmy rabbits are sacrificed, how about releasing a group in to the Biosphere in Arizona, in sort of a half-way house arrangement. Let them multiply there until there really are significant numbers of them, then, release some, not all of them, but a much greater number than 20 to their natural habitat. Perhaps then, despite natural predation, enough will survive and reproduce to bring them back in greater numbers.

And to think that staff at BFD Blog! were able to figure this out with only (just barely) a high school diploma.