Reasons why it is endangered:
- Habitat destruction
- Destruction of sagebrush
- Genetic damage due to isolation.
- Lack of defenses against predators not involving sagebrush, which is in a limited supply. Some of these predators include birds of prey, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, and at times also humans.
- They breed much slower than most animals, making them vulnerable during that time as it becomes difficult from them to escape from predators or even sense them during that time.
Most pressing issue:
By far, the most pressing issue of the pygmy rabbit's extinction is the lack of sage brush, their most vital food source. Apart from the obvious reason that they would inevitably starve without sufficient sagebrush, this plant provides them with a shelter, protection and many other important needs which are vital to their survival. The loss of sagebrush also creates many other problems such as genetic damage. Ever since the damming of Columbia River (see below) one of the most abundant sources of sagebrush, pygmy rabbits have divided greatly to seek sources of sagebrush which caused genetic damage among their species, leaving them susceptible to disease, making it even more difficult to reproduce and breed more of these rabbits. In the end, Oregon Zoo, the zoo currently breeding the pygmy rabbits decided to crossbreed these rabbits with rabbits brought in from Idaho to try and remedy this (see ''Breeding Program''). As to why sagebrush is being destroyed, the soil which sagebrush grows in is extremely fertile so it is in much demand for agricultural needs such as farmland which has lead to the subsequent lack of sagebrush and the production of the most dangerous threat to the pygmy rabbit's existence.