I was in the middle of a photo shoot with bulk water containers when I noticed movement in my peripheral vision. At first I thought it was one of my cats jumping around - when I took a closer look I saw that it was a Rabbit.
A Mountain Cottontail Rabbit or Hare. It must be the smell of spring and the melted snow exposing the grasses that brought him out into the open. Rabbits are usually the most active in the early morning and the early night.
"... a small rabbit but its size is relatively large for the genus. Hind legs are long; the feet are densely covered with long hair. Ears are short rounded at the tips and relatively short; the inner surfaces are noticeably haired.[2] It has pale brown fur on the back, a distinct pale brown nape on the back of the head, black-tipped ears, a white grey tail, and a white underside."
Click the picture below to watch the Video of getting close to the rabbit before his leaps and bounds up the hill.
Rabbits mostly eat grasses and gardens. Their droppings are excellent fertilizers, it doesn't need to be aged like chicken droppings.
In the picture below you can see one Rabbit Paw print I was able to capture. Usually the print shows four 'toes' and one main pad, but that little rock prevented the fourth digit from imprinting.
Click the picture below to watch the Video of when I first spotted him. In the second part of the video, you see him nibbling around my soon to be garden.
I'll leave this Mountain Cottontail rabbit alone for now. I hope he enjoys the early spring weather.
You may enjoy these previous animal identification posts:
- @jackdub/back-acres-woodpecker-s-gone-wild-check-out-the-holes-this-wood-pecker-s-created
- @jackdub/back-acres-track-wild-turkey-in-the-woods-with-me-we-ll-sneak-up-on-their-hang-out-location
Have a great day!