Then the rabbits came.
I love Watership Down, (even the creepy film), and started by watching them with interest. As the snow fell they turned on our trees and began to eat the bark. As the tree's protector, this would not stand. I started by scaring them off. They would just return. I started startling them with a weak BB gun shot to the butt. They would return.
I finally researched the safety and legality of killing rabbits and bought a bigger gun.
After four deaths, they stopped showing. I have always felt that killing animals should result in some sort of use, so after some more research we decided to skin and eat some of them.
It was actually quite tasty.
I was grateful for the opportunity to show my children the whole process. They were surprised to learn that cows and pigs pass through the gutting process so they can have their hamburgers, hot dogs, bacon, etc... Now if Kate and I can keep a dang plant alive we can show them the work that goes into produce.
Other NM wildlife we have witnessed up close:
