A tiny and remarkable species that holds the title of being the smallest rabbit in North America. Unlike many other rabbits, pygmy rabbits have short, rounded ears and a uniformly grayish-brown coat without the fluffy white underside that people often associate with cottontails. These features and compact size make them well camouflaged against the sagebrush landscapes they call home.

What sets pygmy rabbits apart most clearly is their exclusive dependence on sagebrush. They are one of the only rabbit species that dig their own burrows, and they almost always build them beneath stands of dense sagebrush. Sagebrush doesn’t just provide shelter—it makes up the majority of their diet, especially in winter, when they eat its leaves and bark to survive. In warmer months, they add grasses and other plants to their diet, but sagebrush remains their lifeline. This close connection to a single plant makes them highly specialized but also vulnerable: when sagebrush habitats are lost to farming, development, or wildfires, pygmy rabbits struggle to survive.

Another fascinating trait is their burrowing behavior. While most rabbits rely on abandoned burrows or simply nest in shallow scrapes, pygmy rabbits are expert diggers. Their burrow systems may have multiple entrances, chambers, and tunnels, providing protection from predators and harsh weather. These burrows also help aerate the soil and create microhabitats for other small creatures, making pygmy rabbits important ecological engineers. Unlike the more widespread cottontails and jackrabbits, pygmy rabbits have a very limited range, restricted to the Great Basin and surrounding regions of the western United States. Populations are patchy, and in some places, like Washington State, they have become endangered, leading to conservation efforts to protect and reintroduce them.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

United States

2016