istinguished among the other 38 recognized subspecies of the white-tail by being one of the largest in size, and the westernmost in distribution. This deer has a cinnamon-brown coat, which turns blue-gray in the winter. This deer is found in native tidal spruce forest communities along with the Willamette, Columbia, and Umpqua River valleys. Due to habitat loss and disease it is very hard to find this species in the Willamette and Columbia valleys. The clearing of riparian lands for agriculture and un-restricted hunting had reduced the population of Columbia whitetails to a low of 200 to 400 animals early in the 1900's. In Washington, Columbia white-tails are divided into two herds--one on 2000-acre Tenasillahe Island reserve in the Columbia River, and one on the Columbian white-tailed Deer National Wildlife Refuge along the lower Columbia River. The Columbia whitetail thrived under the protection of these refuges and were even considered to be candidates for down listing in 1995. But, in 1996, both deer refuges experienced severe flooding. As a result of these floods, half of the Washington population of Columbia white-tailed deer was lost. Since then efforts have been made to recover these populations. A deer reintroduction effort will begin in 2002 to bring the sub-species onto two new islands in the lower Columbia. Organism 4: Pygmy Rabbit Scientific Name: Brachylagus idahoensis The pygmy is the smallest rabbit species in North America. It measures 9.2-11.6 inches in length, weighs a slight 0.88-1.02 lbs., and is able to fit in the palm of a hand. Unlike other rabbit species brown rabbit digs its own burrows in deep, loose soil. They are dependent upon sagebrush for food, comprising 98% of their winter diet and a good portion of their spring and summer diet. Mortality is high for both juveniles (an estimated 50% dont survive the first five weeks) and also the species in general, which has a mortality rate of up to 88% pe...
