Throughout the winter months I was able to get to know this particular Eastern Cottontail with a bite out of her ear. She would hang out in front of my window where we could watch her and I could clearly see her preferred paths by the tracks in the snow
We actually have a lot of Rabbits in our yard and some time ago I named them all Phillip. I am not sure why, it just seemed right and most of the time I cannot tell them apart. One Ear was different. Besides the bite out of her ear she also had an identifiably bright orange/brown iris that added a sparkle of color to the snowy landscape.
I started to wonder what the world was like through that bright eye. What is it like to be a Bunny in the snow and the 40° below? Did she like the other Bunnies in the yard? She was exceptionally good at chasing them off with a simple intimidating hop in their direction. How did she end up with a piece missing from her ear? As I wondered, I began to paint her
One Ear got bigger towards the end of the winter season and it seemed apparent she was going to be a mama. I wondered where she would set up a nest. I wondered if she had given birth when she disappeared for a short time and then finally came back to my window. That question seemed to be answered when a small litter of Phillips’ was found living in our shed this Spring.
I have not seen One Ear recently. I now wonder where she is off too? Is she eating ferns and berries with the butterflies? Her offspring have grown up and now I watch them eat in the yard. The sun shines brightly through these new Phillip’s pink ears as they snip ferns and munch them down – moths, butterflies, and bees fluttering all around their soft heads. I am not sure what the world is like through One Ear’s eyes but I know this is how her world looks through mine
