Cottontail

Twitch, watch, smell, listen

Tasty grass; foxes are near.

Hop-dash, and survive.

Notes: Cottontail rabbits are so very cute, and I am fortunate to see them often in our yard, sampling some clover or other grass, but always near to some kind of protection. We have a cedar hedge between our house and the neighbours, and I sense that the wee rabbits always have one eye on the hedge, ready to zig-zag and bounce quickly under its cover. They are hyper-aware, using their excellent sense of hearing, smell, and sight. Life as a rabbit is likely very stressful as so many predators are lurking about, waiting to grab a meal. I read “Watership Down” when I was very young, and it left such a deep impression on me and I am reminded of that story every time I see a rabbit: I think of Hazel, Fiver, and Bigwig and their adventures. I read it again recently, and the story is still very good, and I was impressed at how much biology and natural history and conservation science is embedded in the novel. And, the novel does very accurately paint a picture of the difficult life of a rabbit.

© Christopher M Buddle 2022