Spring has definitely been the time for baby wild-life this year. First Rayna found a "hurt" baby bird (it wasn't hurt...just hadn't gotten the hang of flying yet!), then we found the hatchling box turtle (which is now living in Doug's bedroom in a vivarium fit for royalty), and, tonight, Rayna pried a baby rabbit out of Shanachie's jaws.

Rayna DID, in all probability save the baby bird's life...as the dogs were closing in on it before she chased them away and guarded the bird the rest of the day (following it at a distance, making sure the dogs wouldn't get near it). The dogs lost interest and went on to other amusements. But, I wish, tonight, she hadn't spied Shanachie mauling the young rabbit. It isn't so small that it can't live without it's mother...more the age that they begin venturing out a bit to nibble on the grass...but, I have my doubts that the little rabbit will survive and I hate for Rayna to know if it dies. It is safely tucked away in a kennel right now, hiding beneath an old blue bathroom rug...with salad and water nearby. Rayna still asks me several times a week why Great Grandpa had to die. I dread having the baby rabbit added to her list of sorrows.

I remember when I was a kid trying to rescue everything that my path crossed. Even as an adult, I took the quail that flew up suddenly and collided with my windshield into the vet! I am getting older and tireder and more pessimistic, though, these days...I dread the children 'rescuing' yet another casualty of nature. I dread it because I know that the rescued party probably won't live, anyway...and is just further traumatized by our kind intentions. None of my rescued rabbits ever lived. Though they were all considerably younger than this one. My dog, Nubbin, would dig the nests up before the baby rabbits even had their eyes open yet. But, my kids couldn't understand that even if I tried to explain it to them. I guess children have to try and rescue...even when it is doomed to fail.  ¶ 5/25/2006 07:57:00 PM