Sagebrush-steppe ecosystems are one of the most imperiled ecosystems in North America and many of the species that rely on these habitats are of great conservation concern. Pygmy rabbits (Brachylagus idahoensis) are one of these species. They rely on sagebrush year-round for food and cover, and are understudied across their range in the intermountain west due in part to their recalcitrance to standard capture techniques. Identifying an efficient and minimally biased trapping method therefore is a critical first step in learning more about this species. We assessed how trap orientation and weather characteristics influenced trap success for Tomahawk traps placed in and around pygmy rabbit burrows by carrying out trapping surveys at 16 occupied pygmy rabbit sites across the Great Basin from 2016 to 2018. We found that pygmy rabbits had a greater probability of being captured in traps with the open end facing away from burrow entrances. Pygmy rabbits also were more likely to be captured on clear days (0–5% cloud cover) and during periods of cooler temperatures during summer months (June–August). We found no evidence that sex or age ratios differed, or that individuals differed meaningfully, in their preference for certain trap orientations. To increase trap success for pygmy rabbits, we suggest maximizing trapping effort during summer months, at dawn, and maximizing the proportion of Tomahawk traps facing away from burrow entrances. We anticipate that our monitoring protocol will enable more effective research into the ecology and conservation of this cryptic and potentially imperiled species.

中文翻译：

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提高大盆地侏儒兔（Brachylagus idahoensis）诱集成功率的理想条件

鼠尾草-草原生态系统是北美最受威胁的生态系统之一，许多依赖这些栖息地的物种受到极大的保护。侏儒兔（爱达荷Brachylagus idahoensis）是其中一种。他们一年四季都依靠鼠尾草来获取食物和掩盖，而由于他们对标准捕获技术的不满，他们在山脉间西部的范围内对其研究不足。因此，确定一种有效且偏差最小的诱捕方法是了解更多有关该物种的关键的第一步。我们通过在2016年至2018年期间对大盆地的16个被占领的侏儒兔站点进行了诱捕调查，评估了诱捕器取向和天气特征如何影响在侏儒兔洞穴内和周围放置的战斧诱捕器的成功。被捕获在陷阱中，其开口端背向洞穴入口。在晴朗的日子（0–5％的云层覆盖）和夏季（6月至8月）的温度较低的时期，格米兔也更有可能被捕获。我们没有发现证据表明性别或年龄比率在偏爱某些陷阱方向方面有所不同，或者个体存在有意义的差异。为了增加侏儒兔的诱集成功率，我们建议在夏季的几个月内（黎明时分）最大程度地提高诱捕力，并建议最大程度地避开洞穴入口的战斧诱捕器的比例。我们预计，我们的监测协议将能够更有效地研究这种隐性和潜在受威胁物种的生态和保护。为了增加侏儒兔的诱集成功率，我们建议在夏季的几个月内（黎明时分）最大程度地提高诱捕力，并建议最大程度地避开洞穴入口的战斧诱捕器的比例。我们预计，我们的监测协议将能够更有效地研究这种隐性和潜在受威胁物种的生态和保护。为了增加侏儒兔的诱集成功率，我们建议在夏季的几个月内（黎明时分）最大程度地提高诱捕力，并建议最大程度地避开洞穴入口的战斧诱捕器的比例。我们预计，我们的监测协议将能够更有效地研究这种隐性和潜在受威胁物种的生态和保护。