提到兔子，大家大概會想到的詞有“可愛”、“乖巧”和“敏捷”等等，但幾乎沒有人會認為兔子也會和“瀕危”聯系到一起。兔子是以繁殖力強著稱的物種，怎么會面臨滅絕的危險呢？

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 isolated 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 couldn’t make healthy babies, so Idaho relatives were imported to broaden the gene pool.

Today about 80 live in captivity. On March 13, 2007, scientists released 20 rabbits, which scampered into drainage pipes that serve as temporary into drainage pipes that serve as temporary burrows. But by September, predators 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.

（來源：National Geographic，Helen Fields，略有刪改 實習生瞿漫 英語點津 Annabel 編輯）

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