The Rabbits of Winter

Rabbits didn’t visit during the first few weeks of snow. Our neighborhood Eastern Cottontails no longer appeared mid-day like they did this past spring, summer and fall. During the summer, neighbors stated that seeing the critters at 2pm was new behavior. In our new neighborhood, they frolicked, foraged and relaxed in shady spots all day. 

Now the bunnies are true to their nature – crepuscular - meaning they’re active after sunset and before dusk. In November we saw a rabbit a couple of times at twilight and once past midnight.

Rabbit tracks

After December snowfalls, rabbit tracks occasionally appeared in our yard. Usually there was a single set of tracks in various places. As the cold month progressed, more and more tracks appeared, not daily, but frequently. We didn’t know if a single bunny visited multiple times or if there were multiple creatures. As evidenced by their tracks, they began to explore our front lawn.

A couple of times in January we spotted two rabbits on our property. One was smaller. Perhaps it was from a September litter. That month saw frigid days and nights with sub-zero wind chills. More cottontails left tracks, creating interesting designs. Paw prints crossed streets.

Their hind legs and paws are long and fore paws short and round. The imprints resembled arrows. You’d think that was how bunnies landed – denoting the direction they were traveling. But no, according to research the long hind feet land in front of the smaller front paws.

Rabbits have been smart. They chose to hop on shoveled areas or snow a couple of inches high. Why struggle in deep snow if you don’t have to?

M