Wabbit season

Right there beind the fence post. That's this year's bunny. But don't go getting attached.

Last year about this time, a cousin of this creature found its way under our deck. It's bound to happen in a place like Kansas City. There are urban patches here, but this is essentially a city in a park. Which means birds, squirrels, possums, rabbits and varying degrees of vermin. And in the spring, everybody breeds.

Last year's bunny spent a few days darting out from the under the deck to nibble grass (as well as more valued plants) until the we let the dogs out. There would be much commotion and the bunny would dart back under the deck. The dogs would sniff indignantly for a while and eventually give up.

Then a thunderstorm drove a feral cat and her four kittens under the deck. That was the last we saw of Bunny '05.

Bunny '06 appeared on Sunday at the back of the yard, trying to get out under the fence. Or in. Who knows. All I do know is that there was excited dog activity and then an eerie whelp. We called the dogs off, but attempts to shoo the bunny out of the yard ended with it under the deck.

Today, my wife came home from work and let the dogs out just like always. And like in some after-school-special version of Watership Down, '06 had strayed from the safety of the deck and found itself in No Bunnie's Land.

Too bad for Bunny '06. I just hope it's the only one.