The little things

By CONNIE MERTZ

We kept watch on a female rabbit in the back yard as she cared for her young. She became almost tame and, in fact, has become a veggie consumer much to our dislike. Yet, we have accepted her presence, waiting for the day when her little ones would be scampering about. To our utter disappointment, we saw the nest exposed and empty.

Thinking all was safe in the yard, I left out our persistently meowing cat, who just couldn’t understand why he was forced to remain indoors. He was out only a few minutes when I heard the familiar squeal of a bunny. I ran out of the house and found the little rabbit in the basement window well. The cat was curiously watching and more wanting to play. I cuddled the little rabbit in my hands and gently released him. The cat has remained inside ever since.

A few days later, I again heard the familiar squeal and dashed into the yard. Only this time, I heard the alarming calls of bluebirds in the hemlocks. Other birds chimed in. What had happened? I gazed into the hemlock tree to find a blue jay picking at “something.” I presume he was feasting on the little bunny.

One baby bluebird left his nest too soon. A prime target for just about anything higher on the food chain, we spotted him hopping in the grass. My husband Ken picked him up, and the parents were not one bit happy. They dive-bombed at Ken several times, making an alarm call I had never heard. He gently placed it back into the nest, but the next day, he said he saw a little bluebird in the orchard. Did he survive or was he also victim to the jays?

Our daughter Heather was mowing one of our farm fields, when suddenly she looked down just in the nick of time to see a newborn fawn in her path. She was able to stop in time, and watch the little thing stagger through the grass.

The struggle for life in the wildlife kingdom goes on day and night. Sometimes, we play a role in the rescuing efforts, sometimes we are at fault, but more times than not, we are totally unaware of the day-by-day struggle for survival.