Page 14
The INDEPENDENT, August 3, 2011
Pygmy rabbits being raised at Zoo and then set free
From page 8
mesh enclosures in the wildlife
area.
“We’ve taken extra steps to
try to ensure that we don’t lose
these unique creatures. Every
animal is important,” said Kim
Smith, Oregon Zoo director.
“We’re committed to conserva-
tion of many endangered
species – large and small –
and the fact is, these are the
last Columbia Basin pygmy
rabbits in existence.”
The shy rabbits are depend-
ent on sagebrush, which
makes up the majority of their
diet and grows in deep loose
soil in which the rabbits dig bur-
rows. The rabbits have been
edged out of their habitat as
sagebrush steppe has been
converted to agricultural land.
Disease, wildfire and predation
by raptors, coyotes and
weasels also have contributed
to the rabbit’s decline.
Until this release, there were
no Columbia Basin pygmy rab-
bits known to be left in the wild.
Although there are other
pygmy rabbits, including in
Idaho, Oregon and Utah, the
See Pygmy on page 18
Goulart dies of gunshot wound
Stephanie Potter Goulart,
25, Rainier, died from a self-
inflicted gun shot, after driving
into a ditch on Hwy. 47 near Big
Eddy County Park. Oregon
State Police (OSP) responded
to a report of a vehicle crashing
into a ditch, at about 12:50 p.m.
on July 21. When the OSP
trooper arrived, witnesses
reported that, as they stopped
to see if Goulart needed help,
she shot herself in the chest
with a handgun.
OSP determined that there
was no evidence of any crime
associated with the incident.
Police/Court Abbreviations
Abbreviations: A&D, Alcohol &
Drug; DUII, Driving Under the Influ-
ence of Intoxicants; BUII, Boating
Under the Influence of Intoxicants;
CCSO, Columbia County Sheriff’s
Office; DWS, Driving While License
is Suspended; MIP, Minor In Pos-
session of Intoxicants; MV, Motor
Vehicle Accident; PCS, Possession
of Controlled Substance; ODL, Ore-
gon Driver License; FTA, Failure to
Appear in Court; NTSI, National
Traffic Safety Institute; DA, District
Attorney; VIP, Victim Impact Panel;
FF&A, Fines, Fees and Assess-
ments.
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