comments

1. Sheila Ryan on July 5th, 2008 at 9:56 am

   I’m thinking someone may as well invite the feral bunny inside for a bit of tea and cracker. (Cooper, as our rabbit-fancying friend in LA once observed, “I’ve never known a rabbit to refuse a cracker.”)

2. Cooper Renner on July 5th, 2008 at 10:19 am

   But are crackers good for them? He gets plenty of fresh grass (and begonias), as well as the occasional grape that Polly takes out there.

3. Sheila Ryan on July 5th, 2008 at 10:37 am

   You might inquire of our rabbit-fancying friend. I don’t think he fed the rabbits crackers as a regular part of their diet, rather as treats or perhaps bribes. I’m certain he wouldn’t have done so if crackers were bad for rabbits. Of course, I’m also sure he didn’t feed them highly seasoned or heavily ‘processed’ crackers. Maybe a bit of plain toast would do as well. But you might indeed consult with him about matters rabbitty.

4. Mike D. on July 5th, 2008 at 11:15 am

   I figure there are very few foods that, in moderation, will harm an animal. This viewpoint is informed by years of removing pets from half-eaten plates of my food. Ringo, my siamese, got half-way through a bowl of 3-alarm chili (the pinto beans only, go figure) in the time it took me to retrieve a glass of milk from the kitchen. He’s also a fiend for cornbread.

5. Sheila Ryan on July 5th, 2008 at 11:28 am

   The raccoons who scavenge the common garbage dumpsters in the shed we share with our neighbors would agree with you, Mike. They live for Sunday nights, when humans depart (most of the nearby houses are weekend/vacation places, often rented out Friday through Sunday to turistas). Sunday! Sunday! Sunday! Big raccoon party in the shed! All the flat Bud Light you can lap up to wash down stale chips and cold pizza!

6. Mike D. on July 5th, 2008 at 11:43 am

   It’s the circle of life.

7. Sheila Ryan on July 5th, 2008 at 12:27 pm

   For a moment there I thought you were referring to the death of Bozo.

8. Alek Lindus on July 5th, 2008 at 3:50 pm

   they actually pretty good survivors when they go feral… no?

9. Sheila Ryan on July 5th, 2008 at 4:24 pm

   Oh, they are. (And I was only teasing Cooper about domesticating the rabbit with tea and crackers!)

10. Jeff Harrell on July 5th, 2008 at 8:38 pm

    He had been dreaming in a confused way—something about rain and elder bloom—when he woke to realize that there was a rabbit lying quietly beside him—no doubt some young buck who had come to ask his advice. The sentry in the run outside should not really have let him in without asking first. Never mind, thought Hazel. He raised his head and said, “Do you want to talk to me?”

    “Yes, that’s what I’ve come for,” replied the other. “You know me, don’t you?”

    “Yes, of course,” said Hazel, hoping he would be able to remember his name in a moment. Then he saw that in the darkness of the burrow the stranger’s ears were shining with a faint silver light. “Yes, my lord,” he said. “Yes, I know you.”

    “You’ve been feeling tired,” said the stranger, “but I can do something about that. I’ve come to ask whether you’d care to join my Owsla. We shall be glad to have you and you’d enjoy it. If you’re ready, we might go along now.”

    They went out past the young sentry, who paid the visitor no attention. The sun was shinning and in spite of the cold there were a few bucks and does at silflay, keeping out of the wind as they nibbled the shoots of spring grass. It seemed to Hazel that he would not be needing his body any more, so he left it lying on the edge of the ditch, but stopped for a moment to watch his rabbits and to try to get used to the extraordinary feeling that strength and speed were flowing inexhaustibly out of him into their sleek young bodies and healthy senses.

    “You needn’t worry about them,” said his companion. “They’ll be all right—and thousands like them. If you’ll come along, I’ll show you what I mean.”

    He reached the top of the bank in a single, powerful leap. Hazel followed; and together they slipped away, running easily down through the wood, where the first primroses were beginning to bloom.

11. Alek Lindus on July 6th, 2008 at 12:49 am

    i think the crackers and tea are part of the survival technique, otherwise its more a case of watership down [is that the name of the damn book? i keep tripping over the wind in the willows for some reason]

12. Sheila Ryan on July 6th, 2008 at 12:52 am

    Yes, Watership Down is rabbits. The Wind in the Willows is Rat and Mole and Toad and Badger (and assorted weasels, stoats, and ferrets).

13. Alek Lindus on July 6th, 2008 at 1:02 am

    yea it was toad and his bad driving that kept tripping me up

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