PYGMY RABBITS IN IDAHO: USING GENETIC ANALYSES TO ESTIMATE OCCUPANCY”

Project ID: F24AC01012

Federal Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Partner Institution: University of Idaho

Fiscal Year: 2024

Initial Funding: $56,000

Total Funding: $56,000

Principal Investigator: Rachlow, Janet

Agreement Technical Representative: Martonick, Sarah

Abstract: THE PYGMY RABBIT IS A SAGEBRUSH-DEPENDENT SPECIES OF CONSERVATION CONCERN THROUGHOUT ITS RANGE.THE COLUMBIA BASIN DISTINCT POPULATION SEGMENT IS CURRENTLY LISTED AS ENDANGERED UNDER THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT (ESA), AND RECENTLY, THE SPECIES WAS PETITIONED FOR RANGE-WIDE ESA LISTING. INFORMATION ABOUT CURRENT DISTRIBUTION AND POPULATION TRENDS IS NEEDED TO ASSESS THEIR CONSERVATION STATUS, RESPOND TO THE RECENT PETITION FOR ESA LISTING, AND PROVIDE GUIDANCE FOR LAND AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES. THE PROPOSED PROJECT BUILDS ON A BROAD COLLABORATION TO ESTIMATE OCCUPANCY FOR PYGMY RABBITS IN IDAHO AND SOUTHWESTERN MONTANA BY SUPPORTING A KEY ELEMENT OF THE WORK GENETIC ANALYSES TO CONFIRM SPECIES PRESENCE. ON-GOING WINTER FIELD SURVEYS ARE BEING CONDUCTED AS PART OF A COLLABORATIVE PROJECT TO DOCUMENT PRESENCE OF PYGMY RABBITS ACROSS SUITABLE HABITAT IN IDAHO AND MONTANA. PARTNERS FROM MULTIPLE STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES ARE CONTRIBUTING TIME AND SUPPORT TO DOCUMENT EVIDENCE OF PYGMY RABBITS. FECAL PELLETS ARE BEING COLLECTED TO ALLOW MOLECULAR CONFIRMATION OF SPECIES IDENTIFICATION. THESE DATA WILL BE USED IN AN OCCUPANCY MODELING FRAMEWORK TO ESTIMATE CURRENT OCCUPANCY THROUGHOUT SUITABLE HABITAT AND TO ASSESS CHANGES IN OCCUPANCY OVER THE LAST DECADE FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEASTERN IDAHO THAT WERE SURVEYED P