Jackrabbit in the Owl Preserve

March 7, 2018

No Burrowing Owls were spotted this winter in the preserve set aside for their protection in the northeast corner of the park, but this jackrabbit — make that plural — felt secure enough shortly before sunset to spend some time in the grass there munching on a favorite herb and taking care of its important ears. I’ve seen a jackrabbit in this area before, several times, and it’s pretty clear that it has a burrow there, behind a big bush. I’ve not seen it at rest before, unconcerned with me and others on the perimeter trail watching it. When done with its munching and scratching, it hopped a few yards north and stopped again, partly hidden by the grass. Then, a few feet to the south, out popped a second set of jackrabbit ears! Chances are that the jackrabbit population in this corner of the park is going to grow.

These jackrabbits are known technically as Black-tailed Jackrabbits (Lepus californicus). They’re said to be very common all over the Western United States. Read more in Wikipedia.