The past couple of weeks, Murphee has been fixated on this area of the porch. Snuffling around, scratching at the decking, sometimes barking at whatever critter lies beneath. I crawled down there with a flashlight and my phone to inspect on more than one occasion, to no avail.
One night during her 11 pm patrol, she chased something through the yard that darted under the porch. It took all my effort to get her back inside. I asked Paul how we should handle this. Worst case: skunk. More likely: rat. Should we try a live trap? Paul seemed less bothered by these possibilities than I was. I went to bed pondering and googling from under the covers.
The next morning, as soon as I opened the door, Murphee made a beeline for her spot. Suddenly, from beneath the porch, a rabbit burst out—our resident bunny, whom Hannah affectionately calls Judy (after some childhood movie, of course). A Judy in the yard? That, I could handle.
These rabbits—snowshoe hares, most likely—act like they own the place. I greet Judy in the morning as she nibbles grass and milkweed. She never answers, but I feel as if we have a bond. The lilac bushes have become her sanctuary, and more than once, she’s startled me as much as I’ve startled her, darting out when my weeding gets too close for comfort. Judy’s even made a cameo on the doorbell camera, investigating my mint and oregano patch like a curious little garden inspector.
Just as my coffee was brewing Thursday morning, I glanced out the window and did a double-take—TWO Judys! I fumbled for my phone, snapping pictures to send to Hannah, proof of our multiplying residents.
Heading to my car, I caught another Judy just eight feet away—motionless, trying her best ‘if I don’t move, you can’t see me’ impression.
I greeted her, slid into my seat, and then noticed: three more Judys scattered across the drive, like a magic trick gone slightly out of control.
We have junior Judys now—a full-blown Judy explosion. I’ve given up trying to count them. They’ve been kind to my garden so far, so I return the courtesy, leaving little piles of greens by the lilac bush for their nibbles.
