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Baby Bunny Eating

This is a third generation wild bunny on my North Carolina property.

 

During the spring of 2021, two baby bunnies showed up outside my window to graze on my lawn. I began leaving rabbit food to supplement their diet. After much squabbling they became friends. It turned out they were of the opposite sex and the following year gave birth to a sweet little boy.

 

The parents stuck around long enough to make sure he could handle himself, and then moved on – necessary for the child to become fully self-sufficient.

 

The baby remained but to my disappointment, I could never establish a relationship of trust with this wild creature. He knew I left food, but was hardwired to run from anything big that moved.

 

During the spring of 2023, he found a mate and they produced a baby girl. The father initially stayed around, vigilantly watching over her while she ate, but then disappeared a couple of months earlier than normal.

 

The little girl, now orphaned and terrified, learned to trust me. When I returned from watering my garden, she would often wait for me to sit beside her as she ate.

 

Unfortunately, I discovered the new bunny was terrified of my camera. Whenever I started taking pictures she ran away. But with patience our trust levels grew sufficiently to where I can now sneak in a few shots, if I don’t overdo it.

 

This photo was taken as I knelt about three feet from her as she ate.

 

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Uploaded on August 6, 2023