Over the weekend Dad and I decided to explore the Cottontail Rabbit habitat in our neighbor’s woods. Not sure what I was expecting to see. Probably some sort of cross between the Rankin and Bass Easter special of “Here Comes Peter Cottontail,” and the recent Netflix adaptation of Richard Adams’ Watership Down. Instead we saw nothing!
Thankfully there weren’t any remnants of their hides from the Coyotes attacking their den. Nor were there signs of so much as a Cottontail or even a Hare. I didn’t see any telltale paw prints in the fresh dusting of snow on Sunday. Luckily there weren’t Coyote tracks to be seen either. There were though all sorts of Deer, Fox, and of course Squirrel prints both old and new in the snow. This kind of made me feel sad. Why wasn’t I invited to their party? Must be Asa’s fault. I’ll bark at him when I get home.
Anyways, I’m happy the Rabbits have gone into hiding and closed their forest to belly restaurant. Dad assured me they are safe and are just in their burrows keeping warm during these final weeks of winter. Perhaps in the spring I’ll head back there again to check on them? After all the woods are also part of my neighborhood patrol duties.
