The Rabbit Hunter

Warning: If the thought or site of a dead baby bunny makes you queasy, cry, or otherwise uncomfortable, stop reading now.

If you're still here, you won't believe what Duke did Thursday night.

I was just starting to get ready for bed when Duke insisted I let him outside. It was a little late for him to want to go outside, but I let him and Aspen out. Aspen came back to the door quickly, knowing he was about to miss his bed time if he didn't hurry. About 5 minutes later, I went to the back door and still didn't see Duke. So, I called him, and he comes slowly to the porch. I notice immediately that his cheeks are huge and he has a clump of clover hanging out of the edge of his mouth.

Well, I know he doesn't have a mouth full of clover. It's whatever was IN the clover that is in his mouth. Not wanting to find out by myself, I frantically call Ryan to the scene. Since I wasn't about to reach in his mouth to find out what it was, I told him to "drop it."

Not working.

So, I lifted up the side of his lip and see a furry ball of something...a chipmunk, a mole...I can't really tell, but I'm freaking out a little here. Ryan goes to the kitchen and brings back a few slices of lunch meat. Bribery, I love it. After seeing his brother gobble down a few slices without him, Duke finally opened his mouth enough for me to shake his head and get the little critter out.

This is what we found. Yes, an innocent baby bunny lost his life to Duke, the Rabbit Hunter.

I was sad, disappointed in my precious, do-no-wrong (well almost) pup, but the only thing to do now is finish getting ready for bed. Both the dogs were back inside--mouths empty. The dead bunny was disposed of, beyond the dogs' fence, so Duke wouldn't eat him.

Not long after I was back in the bathroom brushing my teeth, I heard some commotion in the living room. I took a quick look and saw the dogs were desperate to get something from behind a speaker. Did they drop a toy back there? It wouldn't be the first time. So I took a peak. It was a bit dark, so all I could see was a tiny dark shadow. Probably one of their stuffed animals, but I didn't recognize this toy. Since I was a little skittish from what just happened, I thought I should go get the flashlight before I just stick my hand down there and grab it.

This is what I saw.

Another bunny!! and IN the house! When did he carry it inside? Is it hurt? I was squealing, and Ryan was in the shower, laughing. He said, "Put it outside."

"I don't want to touch it."

"Well, get something to put it in."

So, I'm trying to figure out the best way to get the little guy out without 1)scaring him to death, 2) without scaring me to death, and 3)

Without letting him fall prey to this guy.

Or this one.

When I composed myself and Ryan arrived for assistance, we coaxed the little guy into a paper bag. I saw a little blood on his rump, but other than that, he was moving around well and we thought we should just let him go and hope the best for him.

Operation bunny-release was successful. He was far from the dangers of the back yard. The next morning he was gone, so we figured he lived and moved on or some other predator finished the job Duke started.

I wish this is where the story ended, but it isn't.

When I let the dogs out that morning, I followed Duke out...just to make sure he didn't have another bunny from the same litter out there.

You know, just on the off-chance that he might...

Well, he went directly to a clump of grass and plucked something into his mouth. I immediately called him over and shook it out of his mouth. Yes, another bunny. This one had been dead, though. I guess he killed him the day before and kept him there as a little prize. He must have taken out the whole litter of bunnies!

I looked around the yard to make sure he didn't have any others hidden. After the all-clear I thought this story would finally be over.

Two days later, yesterday, we headed outside to do some yard work. When Ryan drove the lawnmower around to the front yard, I was headed out on the front patio and something darted out from the bushes onto the patio.

It was the released bunny!

His cut was healing but there was a big mean fly attached to the open skin. I couldn't just leave him like that...all by himself, defenseless and alone, with a big, mean fly on him, and did I mention that he was alone and scared?

So now we have a bunny.

In a box...

Eating lettuce leaves.

With no flies on his healing wound.

Now what do we do? Give him to a vet? Let him go in a few days when he is healed? Give him to my nephew for his birthday, despite my sister's reluctance? (j/k, Kim)

At this point, I'm not sure, but at least one of the 3 bunnies that fell prey to Duke will be making a full recovery.

Finally, THE END.