提到兔子，大伙大概会想到的词有可爱、乖巧和敏捷等等，但几乎无人会觉得兔子也会和濒危联系到一块。兔子是以繁殖力强著称的物种，如何会面临灭绝的危险呢？
Eight years ago the smallest rabbits in North America were nearly extinct in Washington State.
While pygmy rabbits live in several western states, the population in the Columbia River Basin has been isolated1 for thousands of years and is on the endangered species list. As the rabbits sagebrush steppe habitat was converted to agriculture, their numbers fell; in 2001, fewer than 30 were known to live in the state Biologists trapped 16 rabbits and began a captive-breeding program. But the one-pound pygmies couldnt make healthy babies, so Idaho relatives were imported to broaden the gene2 pool.
Today about 80 live in captivity3. On March 13, 2007, scientists released 20 rabbits, which scampered4 into drainage pipes that serve as temporary into drainage pipes that serve as temporary burrows5. But by September, predators6 had eaten all except one. Biologists are thinking of ways to make a second release go better: for example, placing the rabbits in a fenced-off area or even getting rid of some of those wily coyotes.
