The Bunnies We Know

 A woman in Florida has been feeding the local rabbits (it is legal to feed them in Florida, but not legal in some other states). Here are some of the best videos: Baby Marsh Rabbits' Cilantro Tug of War!  Wild Bunny Curtis Knows Where The Fridge Is I believe that wild rabbits are curious about us but have to overcome an instinctive fear to interact with us. At some point during the interaction, the fear instinct triggers and asks, "What are you doing???" The rabbit runs away, and then sometimes returns. 

 Wild rabbits run from you or are at least skittish. But one rabbit seemed comfortable in our presence. A rabbit is comfortable if it's doing what it wants to do, and what it wants to do is usually: eat grass. We talked to and photographed one rabbit that did not run away from us. We were within three feet. We do not feed the rabbits, but we talk to them. Last summer, Rusty got comfortable with us . It's been a year, but how much time does that feel like to a rabbit?  If a rabbit's life span is eight years (and most don't survive beyond three) than a year to us might be about nine years to them. The rabbit did not run from us but it also did not greet us. If it has not seen us in nine years of its subjective time, then perhaps we are a fond memory of the past, but not a current memory.

 If you watch wild rabbits, you will see that they bounce, rather than hop. They move like boats on an ocean full of waves. Here in the suburbs, their ocean is mostly grass.  Hence the song: Little Bunny Sailor on a Grassy Sea (song, a capella) Here are the lyrics I wrote: Wouldn’t it be funny if I could see a bunny Bouncing around with its tail going up and down Little bunny sailor on a grassy sea Watching you makes me feel happy Please eat as much as you need But leave at least a few seeds Wouldn’t it be funny if I could see a bunny Bouncing around with its tail going up and down There’s a bunch of bunnies dancing round the lawn Each one more dexterous than a tiny fawn Celebrating life by dashing here and there And making binky leaps in the air Wouldn’t it be funny if I could see a bunny Bouncing around with its tail going up and down When a bunny flops down in the shade It’s showing me it’s not afraid May our garden be your happy place Treat it as your o...