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JP dog park closed again, this time because some buns are no longer in the oven
By adamg on Wed, 08/31/2016 - 2:50pm
The MSPCA says it's closed its South Huntington Avenue dog park again, this time to protect a mother rabbit and some new baby buns currently nesting there:
We anticipate re-opening the park in two to three weeks after the babies have been weaned and are able to move on. We ask for patience as we prioritize the safety of #wildlife who share this space with the community. We can all live skillfully (and enjoyably!) alongside wild life such as these rabbits.
Via Jamaica Plain News.
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Comments
Closed to dogs? or can I walk
Closed to dogs? or can I walk my Python?
Unbelievable
The piping plovers nesting will be the next excuse to shut down.
Eh
What's up, doc?
So
It's their property to do with as they wish.
Squirrels are everywhere!
There are lots of small furry critters. If common,
domesticnative rabbits are a concern why not just lock up the park and turn it into a preserve?Um
1) it's a private facility, so they don't even have to offer it as a dog park
2) wild rabbits not domestic. Which you'd know from reading the article.
There are lots of small furry critters you can own and keep in your house without needing public space for your hobby - why not just get one of those?
Sure
Sorry, I wrote "domestic rabbits" to indicate a contrast from European rabbits which are the ones that most people keep as pets.
My question is serious. I see literally dozens of wild, native rabbits every day. They are in my yard, on the sliver of green in front of my office downtown, and in just about every park in the city. If Angle wants to close their property it's their right. However, if the argument is that every furry critter must be protected from domestic pets you'll have to ban dogs and cats since wild furry critters are everywhere.
Wow, and here I thought it
Wow, and here I thought it was a nice gesture.
As soon as the baby bunnies are old enough, mom will move them anyways. Why not just let her in peace in the meantime? Why does it have to be so complicated?
Read the book
Moving warrens is very complicated with all the elil out there, never mind about the shining wires and vicious owslafas and the rest.
Protecting rabbits or preventing a bad scene?
Sharks aren't the only animals prone to feeding frenzies. Bunch of loose dogs, Peter Rabbit hops in, bloody mayhem ensues.
But
Maybe some of us like to take our dogs coursing from time to time.
Then go here
Up here in NE our dogs chase plastic bags, not live bait. Take them out to a course with these guys: http://gazehoundsofnewengland.org/
Or http://www.asfa.org/#
Or https://www.apps.akc.org/apps/events/search/index.cfm
I know you were being a wise-ass, but there may be some who don't know what lure coursing is. It's actually fun for (nearly) everyone. It's really fun watching the dogs go full tilt around a field chasing a bag on a string powered by an old car engine (at least that's what they used when we went to observe). And the course is no mere oval: it's set up more like a moto track with great zig zags and straightaways.
Blame Television
Snatch has been getting heavy play on cable. The coursing scene is pretty great (and to give away the ending to people, the rabbit wins.)
ha!
I don't have cable ... ;-)
Your first comment reminded me of a friend who coursed her basenji and in one of the finals she (the basenji) was up against a saluki who fixated on the basenji rather than the plastic bag (I think that owner may have done live lure coursing in some training). The basenji escaped the saluki by darting under a fence and went to ground for 2 weeks. It was stressful for my friend, but she got her pup back a little more feral and skinnier. Her basenji hadn't lost too much weight, she figured the pup had probably eaten field mice or or other rodents/bunnies (ironic or coincidental).
Prob not domestic
Hate to speculate, but here I go. They could be New England cottontail rabbits, a "vulnerable" species at risk due to habitat loss across the region. Also, I imagine folks will be a lot less upset with the MSPCA for closing the park than if photos or video emerged of a dog having a go at one of the baby bunnies (or the momma bunny going at a dog).
Rabbits are everywhere
suddenly in Boston. I started seeing them first around Kendall but they've definitely been in JP for a while and I'm sure we'll be seeing more of them. While I appreciate the Angell's concern I wonder whether B. They couldn't relocate the nest and B. How much energy do we spend protecting a rabbit who's dumb enough to set up nursery in a dog run. Not the sharpest knife in the drawer, me thinks.
Another example
Rabbits have overrun the Back Bay Fens to the extent that red hawks were brought in* (2 summers ago, I think) to help cull the rabbit population. Lately, I've noticed an explosion in the squirrel population in more "cultivated" urban spaces like NEU campus (where I also spotted a pretty large rabbit earlier this week).
*Deliberately adding to existing RH population
Just to take the speculation
Just to take the speculation even further, they could also be the legendary Esquilax: a horse with the head of a rabbit, and the body of a rabbit.
If they are...
...they must be protected!
So, your argument is: since
So, your argument is: since the MSPCA cannot protect EVERY animal from harm, they should do nothing at all?
Really smart, if you don't think about it.
By the way, stop wearing your seat belt. Abandon vegetables. Smoke! Be stressed, get $*&-drunk every night and always venture off those pesky wooden sidewalks over the hot springs at Yellowstone. After all, there's no guarantees in life, right??
Really smart, if you don't think about it.
I mean, it's a comment on the internet.
Is it just me
Or is anybody else seeing rabbits a lot more at dusk this year? They've been all over Brighton this spring/summer. More breeding by them, fewer predators lurking, or both?
Rat City
I've noticed that too. I have neighbors in Brighton who used to manage several feral cat colonies in the neighborhood before St E's put a stop to that, so fewer cats around could make it easier for rabbits to breed. That or maybe rats are easier targets and all the predators are going after them? I think we all know which of the two we'd prefer...
Watertown
For the past three years, we've had enough rabbits in Watertown to fairly much guarantee a sighting in our yard once or twice a week. Sightings have been declining a bit lately, though, so I wonder if the town (or some citizens) are taking a hand in rabbit population control.
I rather like them. I'm not an overly superstitious sort, but I've found that every time I see one I have a very good day. Coincidence, of course, but I still feel good when I spot one on my way out of the house.
Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com
It's not just you. I have
It's not just you. I have definitely been seeing more rabbits--six feet tall, leaning on lamp posts.
Elwood?
Elwood is that you?
But
why are you wearing that stupid human suit?
Definitely a bunny uptick in
Definitely a bunny uptick in Allston
RatRabbit City the past two years or so.C'mon
How about having a little compassion for all animals?
Pretentious and unnecessary
reason for shutting the 'green space's for 2-3 weeks. Simply move mommy bunny and the litter to another location. Just be sure to pick up litter wearing gloves so mommy doesn't smell any human scent on them, she might then abandon the.
Mythological and inaccurate
Rabbits don't do the scent thing.
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/rabbits/tips/solving_problems_rabbi...
Also, remember: this is private land belonging to a private organization. Their call.
Step 1:
In a large, deep skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Season the rabbit with salt and pepper. Working in 2 batches, brown the rabbit over moderately high heat, turning occasionally, until crusty all over, about 10 minutes; lower the heat to moderate for the second batch. Transfer the rabbit to a large plate.
Thumper?
You eat Thumper? You probably eat Bambi, too, don't you?
Seven Must-Try Rabbit Dishes in Boston
http://www.bostonmagazine.com/restaurants/blog/2015/04/03/where-to-eat-r...
Needs more bacon
Rabbit is too lean. Dries out easily. Either deep-fry it or add bacon.
Tell
Tell me about the rabbits, George.
As some of the comments here
As some of the comments here clearly demonstrate, there's a reason we can't have nice things. I wouldn't be surprised if at some point in time in the future they decide to close their private property to everyone because they're tired of fielding complaints about how it's used.