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Several years ago I read Sterling Beaumont’s Associated Content article, How to Avoid Mowing over Baby Rabbits. If you read good advice from a YCN Contributor; I hope you saved saved it, wrote it down and at times time try hard to remember it. I mention this in all seriousness for two reasons. First, at the time I first published this piece, I failed to follow my own advice. Second, YCN is now defunct and the articles are inaccessible from that site.
For years I have always had a hound dog to keep the rabbits at bay in my yard. I never really fully appreciated their efforts. They may not have had great kill ratios on their rabbit hunts, but I eventually realized that their presence helped keep the rabbits in their dens. For those rabbits that did dare to venture out of their dens, the hounds chased the them from the yard.
At the time this piece was originally published, for the first time in years, I did not have a hound to perform this function. When I cut my grass for the first time that year, I noticed there were more young rabbits then usual hopping around the yard. This was more of a casual observation. However, when I moved to cut the grass in my back yard there was a patch of grass that was thick and dark. Sadly, that is where tragedy struck for one little rabbit. This little rabbit had left his den and was apparently hiding in this thick grass. Unfortunately, I did not see him until I had already run over the poor furry critter with the lawn mower. Fortunately, I squished him with the tire and didn’t maul him with the mower blade. He squirmed for just a bit and then succumbed to his fate. I believe that his discomfort was short. I felt bad about the incident as this had never happened to me in my life.
Had I followed Sterling Beaumont’s advice from his article, I probably would have surveyed each section of the property before I began mowing it. Then, perhaps, a young rabbit would have been spared. Sadly, what is done is done. However, in the future, I can practice the precautionary measures that Sterling Beaumont discussed in his article.
Adapted from the original piece published June 7, 2009 on Associated Content /Yahoo Contributor Network (YCN)
Note: I must admit that since the original publication of this piece, I have regrettably not practiced this precautionary measure. However, I do not believe that I have mauled or squished any more additional rabbits. Please do as I say, not as I do.
© Copyright, Han Van Meegerin – All Rights Reserved
Han Van Meegerin
