Michael Smith wrote:

>And for a more local controversy: How could grazing help the survival of
>Pygmy Rabbits, considering the rabbits co-evolved with their sagebrush
>habitat, as certain WDFW biologists maintain?

When the alternative to continued grazing is to stridently walk into a
farming and ranching community, proclaiming the power of government and
telling the people there that the cows must come off because of a small
endangered rabbit, there are very real ways in which the survival of the
rabbit could be harmed. After all, these people are the rabbit's neighbors.
They are the ones who drive by all of the time, looking out for fire hazards
and poachers. They are also the ones who own the adjacent property and,
perhaps, they use pesticides or fire in the management of their lands. They
are people who act responsibly toward their neighbors if their neighbors
treat them with respect. They can choose to manage their own lands to
benefit or hinder the recovery of the rabbit's population. These are people
who can have a real influence on the future of the pygmy rabbit. With all
of this at stake, the question is not whether grazing helps the survival of
the pygmy rabbit but whether or not there is evidence of harm that is
sufficient to warrant actions which alienate the community and undermine
many of the positive attributes that the good will of that community
provides to pygmy rabbits.

Pygmy rabbits and grazing have co-existed at Sagebrush Flat for at least 50
years, a time period when pygmy rabbits were being eliminated from areas
that were converted to croplands. When we finally woke up and realized the
rabbit's precarious position, we were quick to demand concessions from those
who make economic use of the last remaining places that the animal survives.
Those who have destroyed every vestige of habitat are asked to do nothing. I
think that in some cases, where a species is not in immediate jeopardy,
there needs to be consideration of the people involved. Sometimes the ones
currently having an affect on the endangered species are the least guilty of
poor stewardship over the long haul.

As far as grazing and the co-evolution of pygmy rabbits with their sagebrush
habitat, that is the problem. The demonstrated effect of grazing on shrub
steppe communities is to increase sagebrush cover. Heavy sagebrush cover is
a key component of pygmy rabbit habitat. Cattle compete for the spring and
summer foods of pygmy rabbits but the important winter food of the rabbits,
sagebrush, is not eaten by the cows. The ultimate effect of grazing is not
yet clear. It has the potential to do both harm and good. Well, what is the
net effect, good or bad for rabbits? I don't know.

Kelly McAllister
alleyes at tssnet1.tss.net