EPHRATA, Wash. — Most of a group of 20 endangered rabbits that were reintroduced to the wild with great fanfare last month have been killed by predators, state officials said.First, the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife has a “pygmy rabbit coordinator?” WTF? And doesn’t that just bring some weird pictures to your mind? A little (and I mean very little, like 3’6”) skinny guy wearing a loin cloth out on high desert on a moonlit night trying to organize a circle of rabbits, matching buck with doe, as they frolic about doing what rabbits do.
Only four of the rabbits released on March 13 remained at the Sagebrush Flat Wildlife Area as of Tuesday, said David Hays, pygmy rabbit coordinator for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Of course, having 70% of your restocked population end upon other critters’ menu doesn’t end the multimillion dollar project nor does it doom its success. Two males have been recaptured.
The 3,700-acre release site has been watched daily by 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.Well, there you go! One male and three preggers female bunnies are still on the loose. If that doesn’t get the population up and running, nothing will. But just to help things along, “More rabbits will be released in the area, and experts are looking for ways to reduce predation.” What are they going to do, start shooting hawks and owls? Sheesh!
Sure their cute little guys but, if the critter can’t come back on its own, maybe it wasn’t meant to be.
h/t: Lucianne.com
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