Ever since we finished up our fence last year it seems that our backyard has become somewhat of a haven for small animals in the neighborhood. From birds chirping to squirrels taunting PT from the safety of a tree branch, we have a regular menagerie back there. You see, we have a number of outdoor/stray cats who wander our fair streets, and ever since we fenced off our yard they’ve found better places to relax than our back-bushes—like atop our front porch furniture. This relative quiet is part of what has encouraged the wild animals to take up residence in the back. What we’ve enjoyed the most though is that there has been a number of baby animals who have gotten a foothold on life in the comfort of our backyard.

Earlier in the summer/late spring we had the distinct pleasure of watching a black bird learn to fly over the course of a few days. I was out planting Ivy’s zinnias while this little guy was hopping about trying to get back into the lilac bush all the while momma bird was hovering near by—readying herself to peck my face off if I messed with her young. Birds are—in my opinion—pretty great, but that’s not really what this is about. What it is about is the family of rabbits that has taken up residence in the corner of our backyard.

Back in June—can you believe it’s almost August?—I noticed a hole in my yard while I was mowing. I didn’t think much of it other than I’d probably need some sort of mole repellent if I found any more. Than that night I saw a rabbit hovering very near said hole/burrow for what seemed a long time. The next day I figured I’d give it a more thorough look. When I did, I saw that there was a layer of thatch over the burrow. Being the man of nature that I am, I put two and two together and figured that the rabbit had moved in with her kittens.

After checking the Humane Society’s website I figured the best thing to do for now is to let them be, keep an eye out when I mow and make sure PT doesn’t get any bright ideas. Luckily, PT is a fairly self absorbed dog and has not pestered the burrow so far.

The one time PT did come face to face with the momma rabbit they both got a scare. He tried walking up to her, she bolted across the yard to where we were sitting on the patio. Mrs. Rabbit did a 180 right before she ran smack into us. Running right back towards PT before making a b-line to a spot where our fence doesn’t quite hit the ground. Once the rabbit was gone PT just sat there staring at us like, “What the hell just happened?” A week or so later I was out watering the hosta when out popped a soaking wet kitten no bigger than the palm of your hand. It scuttled off looking a little perturbed while I stood there having a bit of a chuckle at the sight of it.

Since then, we’ve come to a tentative peace with Mrs. Rabbit and her brood. If we come outside while she’s milling about she will turn stiff as a board and eyeballs us until we leave. As I said, PT’s not exactly what you would call observant and there’s been a few occasions that he’s gone out to attend to his business completely oblivious to the rabbit who is standing bug-eyed not fifteen feet away.

All of this led up to the other night when I was futzing about in the garage and I saw that she was hopping around noshing some grass. I decided to test our relationship by getting some pictures of her. In all I spent ten minutes slinking closer and closer to get better pictures and for the most part she was content to do her thing. In the end I got just over five feet from her before she looked like she’d freak. So I decided to give it a rest, no point in harassing the poor thing more than I need to, right.

For now we will continue to enjoy the unintentional fruits of our labor. Who knows maybe I’ll get to snap a couple shots of the young rabbits one of these days.