Eastern Cottontail

[Carma Sue Henry]

This little rabbit is one of a pair of youngsters romping around the backyard this afternoon. An adult was sharing the space but not interested in the games.  We've never seen any of the rabbits (we also have some Brush rabbits in the area and probably some hybrids) using a dust bath before. 

 

This area of bare dirt and gravel is on a well drained slope below our shop bldg and we try to keep it visible (pulling weeds and grass) so we can watch whoever is using it.  It's surrounded by thick patches of Shasta daisies, raspberries, Coreopsis and the ubiquitous Oxeye daisies. The usual customers are Ca Quail, Flickers and Mourning doves, so the rabbit was a fun surprise.