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Author
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Topic: Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease
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Kokopelli
SENIOR DISCOUNT & Dispenser of Sage Advice
Member # 633
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posted May 04, 2020 04:53 AM
As if years of drought haven't been enough, now we seem to have a really bad rabbit virus here in the South West.
Took a scouting / roving shooting / hike yesterday and found a bunch of dead jacks & a dead cottontail.
Does not bode well for future predator populations.
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
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And lo, the Light of the Trump shown upon the Darkness and the Darkness could not comprehend it.
Posts: 7580 | From: Under a wandering star | Registered: Apr 2005
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tedo
Knows what it's all about
Member # 4320
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posted May 04, 2020 07:31 AM
I have noticed a lack of Jack Rabbits around the local area, use to count on seeing 20-30 in the evening riding around in the Jeep, of late its been maybe 5-6. Still seeing lots of cottontails.
Posts: 73 | From: S.E. Arizona | Registered: Feb 2013
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted May 05, 2020 06:35 AM
Jacks have a great personality. We need more, not less!
I remember one time, summertime, way over 100 degrees and I got out to open a gate. As I pushed it open, on the far side of the railroad tie upright; a big jack was sitting in the shade made by the post. Truck drove through and I went to close the gate, walking back towards where he was. He of course saw me, was alert, but in no hurry to abandon his cool location, just a couple feet away from me.
I set up a stand one time and had set my caller the standard 50 feet away and after a while, I turned it on. There was a big patch of Prickly Pear Cactus off to my right and I saw some movement. A big white Antelope Jack was crawling out of his warren and was using the "leaves" of the cactus as steps on a ladder and he got at least 4 feet off the ground and was stretching and peering over the top to get a better look at whatever was making all that noise. He stayed there for a while but I don't remember what he did next because I had a coyote rolling in from another quadrant.
But, the point is, most times you see a jack, they are just running away and you don't see them moving around, normal, like most other critters. Who knows? Maybe he did this every day; climbing to the top of his "lookout"? They are just like us, more or less, but curious.
I don't know? This talk of walking around and stumbling over dead rabbits. I have alway wondered why I have never found a dead coyote, died of natural causes while wandering around in the weeds. Where do they go to peacefully pass away? I only know what they look like on the side of the road.
That's another thing! I've personally never mowed down a coyote as it crossed the road with his head up his ass. But, I did kill one intentionally, the was running down the pavement, in front of me. I just ate him up, thump! thump! when I stopped and backed up, he wasn't dead....yet. Kinda mean, huh? ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Good hunting. El Bee
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 31462 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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