They say the program has been a success.īiologists are now trying to breed pygmy rabbits in the wild. The rabbits are federally listed as endangered in the state - the hilly sagebrush landscape in Central Washington is their only home.īiologists have worked since 2011 to breed and release hundreds of the palm-sized rabbits into the wild. Volunteers should work with the Forest Service or other experts once the fire is out.Ī fire earlier this summer near Quincy, Washington, swept through pygmy rabbit habitat. Pawlitz said, although many people want to help, it's important that they don't take a go-it-alone approach with restoration efforts. "That will be a factor to help the natural system regenerate itself." "We believe we've taken good care of the underlying ecology of this area in the last 30 years since we were created," she said. It's still too early to know what species are threatened by the Eagle Creek Fire in the Columbia River Gorge, as firefighters are working to save people and homes.īut resilient ecosystems have a better ability to recover from natural disasters, said Rachel Pawlitz, U.S.
Not to mention rare and endangered plants. Just a few in a long line of listed animals. Northern spotted owl, Canada lynx, bull trout. Fish and Wildlife Service in Central Washington. And they will typically be more severe,” said Jeff Krupka, field office manager for the U.S. “We essentially assume that we’re going to have earlier fire seasons. More and more, wildfires are changing conservation strategies for threatened and endangered animals in the region, especially as a warming climate lengthens fire season.