Random ramblings from the cluttered brain of a Brit ex-pat North Devonian trying to keep cool in the steamy summers and warm in the frosty winters of The Great White North.
Tuesday 15 April 2008
Squeamish? Don't read this.
I saw something unusual in the middle of the back yard this morning, and I know it wasn't there yesterday. When I went to check it out, this is what I found.
Poor Mr Bunny.
I wonder what got him? A hawk, perhaps, or a fox? Or next door's cat?
Aww poor wee thing. I'd think that if it had been a hawk, all you'd see is a bit of blood and fur. With that much of its carcass left over, I'd think it was a domestic animal.
That looks like the work of your neighbour's cat. Something bigger than a cat would not have left as much of that poor bunny.Did it have a proper burial? Willie.
I've seen hawks take down birds in my garden, and they are very efficient. I think your other commenters are right, it was probably a cat. A wild animal would have eaten at least part of it. Poor little chap.. ;o(
that looks like the work of a cat. one summer when my friend roxy and i raised chickens, one of her cats got in the coop one night and just killed a bunch of the pullets. didn't eat them...just killed them, leaving the carcasses surrounded by feathers.
(Well I read your post after all, sorry!) This happens all the time, but we hardly like to see it! There is a hawk on oldmanlincoln's site today, but it may be a bit too far away from your garden?
How odd! I have just this minute come inside from doing some pruning and I've found the remains of a large dead crow. Feathers are everwhere under one of our hedges. It must be the spring and our desire to neaten things up that is uncovering this stuff. Winter is cruel.
Aah, I know exactly what happened here. You see, there are a few species of rabbits that jump too high. They freak out in the stratosphere, and feint. Sometimes they land funny, although usually feet-first. Your bunny is only temporarily unconscious, and will be fine in a few minutes. Occasionally one of these high-jumpers bumps into a passing airplane, but that is hardly common.
I think you're all correct, it was the cat next door. I'll have to have a stiff word with Keywee. Meanwhile, the body has been disposed of, and the scattered fur has been recycled into soft fluffy nest linings by the resident sparrows.
Yesterday I saw a huge blackbird (what kind I don't know, but he had a wingspan!) going after a mid sized bunny--he dove at it and once lifted it a foot off the ground before dropping it--the bunny was so freaked out that he ran in circles making an easy target for the bird. Eventually he ran into some thick bushes -- had it been a hawk or an owl, the bunny may not have escaped. I find dropped animals up in the Catskills a lot, seems impossible, but I took a photo of a hawk returning for and sitting on a mourning dove he dropped close to my house.
Once we found a deer head on a forest path, and further down it's legs, but no sign of a midsection Coyotes probably did that. Your bunny? I don;t know, but I've seen big tomcats and dogs go after them, especially dogs--as soon as the bunny stops fighting the dog lost interest. Raccoons will put up much more of a fight than bunnies and can get away from dogs easier.
eeeeh. wow, i know my indoor kitty could never do that. I'm so niave, i had no idea a house cat could take down a bunny. Mice and birds sure (not mine) but thumper? Bad cat.
Poor Mr Bunny. 
Oh dear. Sad Thumper.
ReplyDeleteAww poor wee thing. I'd think that if it had been a hawk, all you'd see is a bit of blood and fur. With that much of its carcass left over, I'd think it was a domestic animal.
ReplyDeleteThat looks like the work of your neighbour's cat. Something bigger than a cat would not have left as much of that poor bunny.Did it have a proper burial?
ReplyDeleteWillie.
I've seen hawks take down birds in my garden, and they are very efficient. I think your other commenters are right, it was probably a cat. A wild animal would have eaten at least part of it.
ReplyDeletePoor little chap..
;o(
that looks like the work of a cat. one summer when my friend roxy and i raised chickens, one of her cats got in the coop one night and just killed a bunch of the pullets. didn't eat them...just killed them, leaving the carcasses surrounded by feathers.
ReplyDeletejust like pore bunny here and the fur.
I know wild animals have to struggle to survive but that doesn't lessen how sad it is to see the poor bunny. Life is fragile.
ReplyDelete(Well I read your post after all, sorry!)
ReplyDeleteThis happens all the time, but we hardly like to see it! There is a hawk on oldmanlincoln's site today, but it may be a bit too far away from your garden?
I agree with the others. Must be your neighbour's cat. How sad, though. I hope it wasn't the Easter Bunny.
ReplyDeleteMust have been a big cat!
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised it was still there if a fox or hawk had killed it..
ReplyDeleteNot a pleasant discovery in your backyard. Poor bunny. I do agree with the other commenters about the cat too.
ReplyDeleteHow odd! I have just this minute come inside from doing some pruning and I've found the remains of a large dead crow. Feathers are everwhere under one of our hedges. It must be the spring and our desire to neaten things up that is uncovering this stuff. Winter is cruel.
ReplyDeleteAah, I know exactly what happened here. You see, there are a few species of rabbits that jump too high. They freak out in the stratosphere, and feint. Sometimes they land funny, although usually feet-first. Your bunny is only temporarily unconscious, and will be fine in a few minutes. Occasionally one of these high-jumpers bumps into a passing airplane, but that is hardly common.
ReplyDeleteEck! It's like me finding a dead rat in the bath tub.
ReplyDeleteI think you're all correct, it was the cat next door.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to have a stiff word with Keywee.
Meanwhile, the body has been disposed of, and the scattered fur has been recycled into soft fluffy nest linings by the resident sparrows.
Are you sure it wasn't just a bad hangover??
ReplyDelete"Are you sure it wasn't just a bad hangover??"
ReplyDeleteAs in too much of the hare that bit you? ;)
Yesterday I saw a huge blackbird (what kind I don't know, but he had a wingspan!) going after a mid sized bunny--he dove at it and once lifted it a foot off the ground before dropping it--the bunny was so freaked out that he ran in circles making an easy target for the bird. Eventually he ran into some thick bushes -- had it been a hawk or an owl, the bunny may not have escaped. I find dropped animals up in the Catskills a lot, seems impossible, but I took a photo of a hawk returning for and sitting on a mourning dove he dropped close to my house.
ReplyDeleteOnce we found a deer head on a forest path, and further down it's legs, but no sign of a midsection Coyotes probably did that. Your bunny? I don;t know, but I've seen big tomcats and dogs go after them, especially dogs--as soon as the bunny stops fighting the dog lost interest. Raccoons will put up much more of a fight than bunnies and can get away from dogs easier.
Well darn i wish i hadn't looked. Poor thing
ReplyDeleteeeeeh. wow, i know my indoor kitty could never do that. I'm so niave, i had no idea a house cat could take down a bunny. Mice and birds sure (not mine) but thumper? Bad cat.
ReplyDelete