Bye, bye, bunny

Winter Morning

The geese arrived early this morning, as they have every morning for the past few days.  It’s the same group, or at least I think it is because the banded goose was with them.  They hung out in the only remaining open patch of water on the pond.  It’s gone now, the open patch of water.  The geese are gone, too.  They took off as soon as they saw me slowly meandering their way.  We have an understanding now.  I let them stay for a little while, and they leave when it’s time.

A crow comes to caw

I had a macabre start to my walk this morning.  I opened the door to step outside and there, just to the right of the door, in the corner by our bright orange snow shovel, was a dead rabbit.  Like the female cardinal I found last week, he had been decapitated, and the head set off to the side.

Snow streaks

I was up during the night and noticed the motion detector lights were on.  There have been muddy animal tracks on the front porch some mornings.  They’re usually too messy to make out what type of animal, and those that were recognizable were little kitty paw prints.  I don’t think a cat brought down this rabbit, although it’s possible.  The rabbit was big and fairly heavy.  I think a coyote caught it, leaving it behind when the lights came on and frightened the coyote away.

It’s snowing

After making a collage of photos of the rabbit, I realized I’m gathering a collection of dead animals.  It’s my way of honoring the spirit of the animals, but I suppose it might seem bizarre to someone looking through my photos.

Snowfall near the alcove

The rabbit has been moved away from the house.  Hopefully one of the carrion feeders around here will come upon it so that the bunny’s death is not a complete loss.  Perhaps the bunny will help another being survive the winter.

Watching the sky

That’s all from the Bogs for today.  Thank you for visiting, and honoring the spirit of the rabbit with me.  Winter is hard on wildlife.  I could ignore that aspect of the season, but it seems to me that would mean ignoring the reality of it.

Be good, be kind, be loving, just Be.

“Come, my child,” I said, trying to lead her away.  “Wish good-bye to the poor hare, and come and look for blackberries.”

“Good-bye, poor hare!” Sylvie obediently repeated, looking over her shoulder at it as we turned away.  And then, all in a moment, her self-command gave way.  Pulling her hand out of mine, she ran back to where the dead hare was lying, and flung herself down at its side in such an agony of grief as I could hardly have believed possible in so young a child.

“Oh, my darling, my darling!” she moaned, over and over again.  “And God meant for your life to be so beautiful!”

~ Lewis Carroll, Sylvie and Bruno

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