The Tale of the Racing Rabbits

Having been born and raised in that quintessential American suburb -- Rutherford, NJ -- I got most of my knowledge about the animal world courtesy of Beatrix Potter, PBS and two weeks every summer at Camp Tamarack. Yet something is happening here in the 'burbs, and I may yet get the chance to produce an episode of Nature in my own backyard.

Put simply, Rutherford is full of rabbits. Oh sure, in the past we would have the occasional cottontail or two. But this year, they're all over the place. To the point where last week I saw three of them racing each other up and down the street... in the street. That's right, joyriding bunnies are taking over the block.

And either they are the classic "dumb bunnies," or they are pretty smart. Two of the larger neighborhood dogs were out for their nightly walk, but the rabbits were totally unfazed. Could it be they have learned the concept "on a leash?"

In any event, they soon kicked into overdrive and the three of them took off for points west. Only every ten yards or so the leader would suddenly stop. Just as the next rabbit was ready to collide with him (her?), he (she?) jumped straight up into the air! All that was missing was Wil E Coyote.

This year, in addition to the lapin agile, we have a bumper crop of squirrels, possums, raccoons and skunks, not to mention the woodchucks who attempted to take over my garage. Makes you start wondering just who has "dominion" over whom?