I found bunny #1 in my tomatoes the day after his birth on July 23rd. I've been trying to avoid watering him when I water tomatoes. This morning I checked tomato patch very carefully. He wasn't in his favorite spot. So I thought he's a big boy I guess he left my yard. I began energetically watering my tomatoes. You guessed it. Bunny # 1 got watered again.
I accidentally found bunny # 2 when I was cleaning up the rhubarb patch. I see him occasionally as I walk by.
Today I scared up bunny number 3 and it was a little more violent than the other two. I was cutting grass and got about 2 m from the large bleeding heart and a terrified little bunny left in a hurry. He went about 8 or 9 m over to the tomatoes and found some cover. What a surprise! I had guessed that all four would be in the yard. I wasn't going to search for them and I'm surprised that I found them.
These little guys are about four times the size when they were born and they are now 13 days old. I can't get pictures as they are tightly under cover. I am also surprised that they have stayed in one spot. I always thought they moved around. So these little guys have taught me much about their life stages.
Oh this Red is hilarious!
ReplyDeleteTomatoes first and rhubarb second. Well they can have a field day in the rhubard patch, I hate the stuff. Do you have carrots in your garden patch? They will be next! Lettuce is also looked upon as a nice little appetizer, called Entree here!
I see no reason why the "bunnies" (kittens is the correct word) or hares (not sure what little hares are called) should move. They have their own vegetable supermarket courtesy of one Kevin Kline!
Just remember that by day 40 the hormones get active!
I can see it all now:
THE KEVIN KLINE SANCTUARY FOR RABBITS/HARES.
Entry fee to view - $C 10.00.
Remember I patented this first. I expect my 50% cut. You have the little "dears", I'll just take my money.
Well done mate! I had a feeling that Canadians and Australians had a secret way of making "loot". No way would I have thought of Rabbits/Hares being our road to financial gain.
Cheers
Colin (Brisbane. Australia)
First , the little beggars are not yet on solid food. They will leave my yard as they keep moving to stay away from predators.
DeleteLiveret is the term for young hare.
Now I have sad news for you. 40 days? Nonsense. These does breed the day they deliver! then the 40 days starts.
So I'm afraid your cut won't amount to much. These guys depend on wide open spaces to escape. yards like mine are a trap because they have nowhere to bound off. They are extremely speedy. So sorry about your
idea. Did you write a business plan for it?
wow! amazing they have grown that much in less than 2 weeks! i hope #4 is around, too!
ReplyDeleteTheir growth is very rapid.
DeleteWhat happens when these bunnies get to be adults and they decide to live permanently in your garden?
ReplyDeleteThey won't live in my garden as it's almost enclosed and they need wide open spaces where they can use their speed to escape.
DeleteI love this story, Red! You have certainly had an interesting summer! And I think Colin may be on to something here! Too funny!
ReplyDeleteIt was a surprise all around. You don't have the white tailed jack rabbit and they are very different from what you have.
DeleteMorning Red - I knew it wouldn't be long before you found #3 - who would have guessed. Rabbits are very good at not moving and staying hidden. Well, if you were born in a bountiful garden, would you even want to move. Wait till they start getting frisky and you are going to have to build a BunnyBotel :) This great that you are keeping up the saga of the Bunnies. It is nice to tune in and have found another in your garden. Kinda neat, eh.
ReplyDeleteKeeping still is one of their defense mechanisms. I think the little ones can do this because they have very little scent.
DeleteI love hearing your bunny stories, and I have to say, I keep laughing when I read about you watering them.
ReplyDeleteHappy that you enjoy these stories. You have a super love of animals so it's natural for you to get a kick out of these stories.
DeleteAwww, a watered bunny! Or two... good post, I really enjoyed it. One of these days you'll get a picture, I'm sure. I look forward to it. :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have to keep my camera outside with me and work at it a bit. I don't want to disturb the little guys just to get a picture.
DeleteI know what you mean! I usually have to brake for snakes, on the lawn, or leopard frogs. I have not needed to do the lawn in the drought, but a few thunderstorms have caused some weed growth. sigh. I, too, water the rabbits or chipmunks. I feel so badly as I scare them and the cats usually take advantage.
ReplyDeleteTomorrow I will cut the lawn.
They also give you a start when they take off and you didn't know they were there.
DeleteGreat comments Red.
ReplyDeleteLiverets, yes that is the name. I just couldn't recall it.
I think Linda has a good idea. I have a "business plan" and maybe Linda and other readers might like to buy shares???
What predators in your garden area??? - YOU??
Yes I know that the "does" can immediately come back on heat, but I was referring to the 40 day old "kittens/liverets"! Young hormones.
Now I think we should patent the name as the "Huggins - Kline - Linda" nursery for rabbits and hares. Kindly note in alphabetical order the names!
Now Ms.Linda and I will deal with the financial aspects of the "loot" being gathered at your front gate. You will deal with the upkeep of tomatoes, rhubard, carrots and lettuce. Oh yes, you will be required to build a large warm hatch for the Canadian winter months.
Re-imbursement will come from the entry fees.
Do you have a large carpark in close proximity for the visitors to park??? Please organise with the local council to have this in place if not already available.
All I can see at present from your delightful "kittens and liverets" is money in OUR pockets. Well done. The "H/K/L" enterprises are on the move.
Most cordially yours
Colin.
CEO of "H/K/L" kitten and liverets nurseries.
Dear Colin,
DeleteI regret to inform you that there are some major obstacles in implementing your fine business plan.
First, I applied for a permit to run the operation and the city would not give a permit. I tried to get zoning regulations changed and this was also not allowed.
I was then informed that I would have to get a Zoo license and property that would be zoned for zoos. This takes a tremendous amount of time and money to obtain.
I was then threatened with keeping and interfering with wildlife and would be charged with such.
Now I have exhausted my funds. i have spent my last pension check. It would bee helpful if you could forward some funds and I'm sure we could get this operation going. What you could do is send me your credit card number so that I could proceed. I hope your credit card has a million dollar limit.
Hope to hear from you soon,
Red
It is fascinating to read about the discovery of these rabbits and I look forward to reading about their development in weeks and months to come.
ReplyDeleteIf they take off over night some day the story will end.
DeleteHere in Minneapolis I've got bunnies of various shapes and sizes as well. Adorable little pests!
ReplyDeletePearl
Same thing around my daughter's place in La Grange , Illinois.
DeleteLike Alan I have enjoying your discovery of these little hares and have also said loud praises when you were able to NOT hurt one of them. The next weeks will be fun to visit also...you still have one more to find.
ReplyDeleteLinda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
I would not harm any wildlife. it's pretty limited at this time in the world's history.
ReplyDeleteIt is so fun to hear about your bunnies. My how they have grown!
ReplyDeleteI must admit that I didn't expect to learn so much as I thought I knew about these guys.
DeleteDamn bureaucracy! Hopeless and no enterprise for a great tourist attraction in your town!
ReplyDeleteAll they can think of is obstacles! Seat warmers and pen pushers I call them.
I was quite sure that Canada was different to the motley mob we have here, but I guess once a bureaucrat (over officious office worker), always a bureaucrat world wide it seems!
So whilst you look carefully for liveret #4, I shall work on Plan B. What's the name of your Prime Minister?
The theory is if the bottom of the chain is hopeless, you go straight to the top.
I am sure Ms. Linda as an executive officer of our industrious enterprise will be bitterly disappointed as will be the prospective share holders.
Colin: CEO of "H/K/L" Zoological Enterprises.
(PS: We weren't asking for elephants etc.)
Well, since I don't see any money in this I will have to give this up .
DeleteRed, How do you have any tomatoes left with the the Rabbit Gang around. I occasionally water our cat the same way, he likes a cool shady spot.
ReplyDeleteThey don't seem to touch the tomatoes at all. They prefer gasses and there's lots of grass there.
Deleteyou remind me so much of our neighbor! he too takes care of all the little bunnies...and puts food for them and i think i told you already how he named them...I am not on your same wavelength...I but rabbit repellent (fox urine) to keep those bunnies in his yard. it has become a good working arrangement for us...
ReplyDeletehave fun watching them grow!
These are not the nuisance as your bunnies are . You have a much smaller version.
DeleteAww Red's rabbits!No wonder they grow so much.. you keep on watering them.
ReplyDelete