I kept seeing a cottontail out in the yard...munch munch munch. Looked quite fat for a cottontail, but....food is plentiful.
Then we found out WHY she was so fat...Mike mowed the back yard yesterday and found this:
The nest hole is quite deep, and goes sideways into the slight hill. There are 6, I think. Fat little buggers, with hair just starting to come in..certainly they fur out differently than the European types.
The doe selected a very secure site, for all that it's out in the middle of our backyard. Yard is fenced, and we've never had a cat or coon get in that didn't regret it immediately. So they don't even try anymore. Sadie (English Setter) who uses the back yard is now quite nicely trained to just sit and watch rabbits, so that won't be a problem. (well..she sort of points at them for me when they get out of the colony...helpful little soul). She went with me this afternoon to check on the rabbits (we had a TON of rain today) and looked in, then just walked away.
Then we found out WHY she was so fat...Mike mowed the back yard yesterday and found this:
The nest hole is quite deep, and goes sideways into the slight hill. There are 6, I think. Fat little buggers, with hair just starting to come in..certainly they fur out differently than the European types.
The doe selected a very secure site, for all that it's out in the middle of our backyard. Yard is fenced, and we've never had a cat or coon get in that didn't regret it immediately. So they don't even try anymore. Sadie (English Setter) who uses the back yard is now quite nicely trained to just sit and watch rabbits, so that won't be a problem. (well..she sort of points at them for me when they get out of the colony...helpful little soul). She went with me this afternoon to check on the rabbits (we had a TON of rain today) and looked in, then just walked away.