Coming back from a walk at dusk last night a rabbit, apparently startled by my presence, hopped from the edge of the sidewalk into the middle of a small front yard. You can’t see from the image I captured, but this little feller was injured — his left back leg is clearly not functioning properly. Either the leg is broken or it’s dislocated; I’m not a veterinarian and I could only get so close. Also, the image I captured suggests more light than was actual at the moment. I don’t know precisely what the diagnosis is only that this four-legged friend isn’t right.
I didn’t want to get closer because I didn’t want the rabbit to move more than it wanted to. As I stayed at a distance for some time, I observed it tending to the leg; it was, quietly literally, licking its wound.
I have since gone back to this neighbor’s yard, which is about 5 1/2 blocks from my house, two times, now with a pet crate in my car. The rabbit moved from that spot — either voluntarily or otherwise. This morning I walked around the block a couple of times and there were no sign of this rabbit.
In July of 2018, while living elsewhere, I encountered a baby rabbit who clearly wasn’t well. I took that rabbit to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota — if you are able, please support this organization’s efforts — but, alas, that rabbit didn’t make it, having, apparently suffered intestinal damage and possibly dehydration. A broken leg, if that’s the extent of the injury to this mature rabbit, could be, it seems, fixable.
I imagine if I encounter the creature again I will struggle with its capture — not wanting to hurt it further in the process and also feeling wholly incompetent to the task. Corralling wildlife is not on the very short list of things I do well. Yet I couldn’t not try. I left a note with the neighbor. Probably by now, some 16 hours after the encounter, it’s too late.
I did notice my mien shift in my relation to this wounded animal. I hope it’s OK. Maybe something will come from my note. Probably this is the end of the story. If so, I’m grateful for the way in which this little thing has altered my relation to the world during the few waking hours I have experienced since. I feel less in my head and a wee bit more connected to this strange and wondrous place we all inhabit.