wild tracks in the snow

wild tracks in the snow

along the creek -- whitetail deer,

wild turkey, rabbit, squirrel

Lozenges of dark water murmur through duvets of snow still blanketing Pilgrim Creek. The calligraphy of wild animal tracks punctuates the pristine canvas -- whitetail deer cutting heart shape prints in the snow as they come down to drink, the curvilinear script punched into the snow by the three-pronged feet of wild turkey, blossoms of cottontail rabbit toes meandering like wild rose vines along the banks, and the funny squiggles of a squirrel snuffling through the snow in search of seeds.

rabbit nibbling white

rabbit nibbling white

clover, freezes on the path,

bolts into the brush

So many cottontail rabbits this year. Maybe it's all the rain. They line the mowed edges of the gravel road, nibbling dandelions and legumes such as white clover and birdsfoot trefoil with their sharp, constantly growing incisors. In winter they will gnaw the bark off of trees. The cottontail rabbit got its name from its short, fluffy white tail. The rabbit's underbelly is also white, while the rest of its soft, silky fur is gray speckled with black tips and cinnamon red on the back of the neck and legs. The rabbit's fur is not waterproof and needs constant grooming to keep in good condition. Rabbits eyes and ears are both keen, and they can rotate those long ears to catch sounds from different directions. Normally they hop, pushing off with their strong hind legs, but when threatened they can run at speeds up to 18 miles per hour, but only for about half a mile. Sometimes they will squat and freeze in an attempt to fool a predator. Cottontails are quite prolific, producing three to six young in a litter with two or three litters a year. Their population is mainly kept in balance by foxes, skunks, coyotes, owls, hawks, snakes and dogs. We have all of these predators in our area, but the rabbits, for now, seem to be ahead of the game.