Pygmy Rabbit
(Brachylagus idahoensis)
Pygmy Rabbit
The range of pygmy
rabbit in Montana is
confi ned to the Southwest
arid basin. Occupied
habitats in Montana
include shrub-grasslands on alluvial fans,
fl oodplains, plateaus, high mountain
valleys, and mountain slopes where suitable
sagebrush cover and soils for burrowing are
available. Conservation concerns include:
loss of sagebrush habitat due to range
management practices; fragmentation of
available habitat; and
the fact that the pygmy
rabbit is a habitat
specialist on all scales.
Conservation strategies
include: considering a management plan
for the pygmy rabbit or including in another
comprehensive taxonomic plan; resting and
rotating livestock; coordinating efforts with
federal agencies including BLM and USFS;
and protecting sagebrush on a large scale.
