Why protect pygmy rabbits?
The pygmy rabbit isn’t the gray wolf or the grizzly bear. It’s not the silvery salmon racing upstream from the Pacific Ocean to its clear-water birthplace. And it’s certainly not the majestic bald eagle. Caring about the survival of those charismatic species is easy. Caring about a species like the little-known pygmy rabbit, no matter how adorable they may be, is another matter. Still, those who love them aren’t deterred. The significance of declining pygmy rabbits goes beyond just the single species, Waterbury said. “The canary in the coal mine analogy is good. You’re losing a piece of the puzzle out there,” she said.
