I don’t think it’s an understatement to say that I could’ve looked out the window at any time this summer and spotted a rabbit in our front or backyard. Rabbits were everywhere, and they chewed on just about every plant in my flowerbeds (except daylilies).
I’m making my seed choices for next year’s garden and I just can’t decide whether to plan for lots of rabbits again (translation: don’t bother with tall marigolds or statice which they decimated) or whether I want to gamble that the balance of nature will realign.
Neighbors have reported very few fox and coyote sightings this year. That could be because there was so much more human activity with most people working and schooling from home during the pandemic.
Once winter hits will the canids start hunting again in our neighborhoods? That might thin the rabbit population somewhat. Although the expression “breed like rabbits” reminds me that even if 2 or 3 of my garden marauders survive winter they will easily make plenty of new relatives next spring.