We have an…erm…flourishing population of white-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus townsendii) around here this spring and with their clearly discerning tastes, they would far rather munch on the free buffets everyone’s gardens than the gazillion luscious dandelions popping out of the lawns. The adult rabbits are big, too – much larger* than a housecat and many dog breeds, and they have this steely look in their eyes that suggests you don’t want to mess with them when they’re chowing down on your tulips. They’re so used to people that they barely blink when you try to shoo them away – sometimes you really have to make a fuss to get them to run.
This little one is going to be a problem one day, but for now, he’s the cutest thing in the neighbourhood. Our landlady hasn’t planted up the boxes in the doorway at the back of our building just yet, so he’s taken to snoozing in one, casually pretending that no one sees him when they enter and exit. I guess having his back to the bricks makes him feel very secure. He certainly didn’t move a muscle when I took a photo over the stair rail a few evenings ago. I just can’t get over how long his legs are compared to his body size – he’s going to be one huge bunny.
*In Wayne Lynch’s article “More Than Fluff: The Curious Behaviours of Rabbits and Hares” in the Spring/Summer 2012 edition of Alberta Conservation, he writes that white-tailed jackrabbits can reach a hefty 3.5 kilograms.
Are rabbits a problem in your garden? What have you done to try to deter them?
Flowery Prose. 