Rabbit Salad

This is not about salad made from rabbits but made for rabbits! :-) 

About 10 minutes from my house in Lower Woodland Park there is a large rabbit warren.  Originally it was a small group of rabbits but over the years the number have increased – not so much because they are rabbits but because people think it’s a fine place to dump domestic rabbits they’ve grown tired of.  While some of the domestics do survive many die as they are not cut out for life in the wild. 

Periodically, I go through the produce around my house and pull out everything that’s past it’s prime or just been in the refrigerator for too long.  I bundle it up and head to the park for a peaceful interlude with the rabbits. 

My favorite time to go to the park is early in the morning before the area is overrun with dogs (many off-leash, unfortunately, as they chase the rabbits and occasionally take a bite out of one) and small children who squeal with glee as they chase the rabbits trying to get close enough to touch them.  Both of these influences, of course, have the effect of sending the rabbits scurrying back into the rocks that guard the entrance to their complex tunnels within the warren. 

At this time of day the rabbits are still waking up themselves, but as I approach the area I start calling them and sure enough, bunny heads start appearing from behind the rocks.  Then, as they realize food is involved, they approach to see what’s for breakfast!  Along the warren are several flat rocks where people place food for the rabbits.  I generally place the leafy greens on the rocks but hold out some special treats to hand feed them.  Carrots are their very favorite but they are also partial to broccoli and apples. 

The rabbits are semi-tame and will sometimes let you touch them as they are taking a treat from your hand.  (A little warning:  Rabbits are rodents and, as such, wild rabbits carry many of the same diseases that other rodents carry.  So if you choose to touch wild rabbits, wash your hands thoroughly afterward or, even better, wear disposable gloves.) I love when they grab a little carrot piece right from my fingers and then take off to gobble it up before any of the other rabbits can steal it away! 

This morning, the sun was just over the horizon and it was very quiet in bunny-land.  All I could hear was the sound of rabbits munching. :-)  The quiet was broken only by the raucous calls of a pair of Blue Herons passing overhead.  I was enjoying the experience when it suddenly got even better!  Over on one side of the warren I noticed baby bunnies!   I carefully made my way to that area and was treated to the sight of about eight babies frolicking in the fresh morning air.  They were just a little larger than the palm of my hand.  They were still very shy, so I had to stay very still so they wouldn’t take off for cover.  They were so cute! 

I love the sight of those little ones, although it means there will be even more rabbits this summer and food is already scarce for those in the warren.  Earlier this year I counted over 50 in an area that used to support just a couple dozen.  If you happen to have produce past it’s prime and live in the area, think about stopping by and sharing it with the rabbits of Lower Woodland.