Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Rabbits Make Noise!--Who Knew?!

Actually I have known for a long time that rabbits do make noise. They scream when captured by a predator and are about to be eaten. But last night I heard something I have never heard before, in 25 1/2 years up here.
I was filling up a horse water tub and my mind was off in la-la land when, from behind me, I heard a {{noise}}. I came back from la-la land long enough to note I had just heard a strange noise then I was back into la-la land. Then again, a {{noise}}. This time I turned around and saw only two rabbits grazing on the sprouting weeds about ten feet from me. I turned back to watch the water and once again, a {{noise}}. I turned again, and again saw just two rabbits eating. This time I kept my mind in the present and stayed turned. With no warning, one of the rabbits jumped up in the air, mostly straight up but somewhat in the direction of the other rabbit, while making the {{noise}}. The other rabbit moved and the jumping rabbit took over his grazing area. Picking up my jaw, I realized that this was a dominant move and noise, designed to move the lower ranking rabbit.
Oh my, how to describe the {{noise}}. I really can't do it justice. Sort of like "fffttt", but not really with a moderate pitch and loudness. Sort of like an old stiff nylon coat rubbing, but not really.
Is this something all rabbits do? or just this one rabbit? Will I ever again hear it? Or was this a one time blessing? These were the wild cottontails doing this dance and song.
Rabbits--how interesting.

4 comments:

Erin said...

I used to raise rabits. They make a lot of different sounds to vocalize a challenge every now and then. Like you I cannot describe the number of sounds that I have heard accurately, but it sure is interesting.

I have heard them scream, cry, growl, and hiss just to name a few.

MysteryTheMorab said...

Hi,

I just found your blog and am enjoying your stories. I look forward to reading more!

Kimberly (&MysteryTheMorab)

OldMorgans said...

Rabbits hiss!!? Wow.
Welcome Kimberly. I have lots of stories to tell, but not a lot of time, so it is a slow process.

sagebesties.blogspot.com

CDietz said...

When I was a child, my sister had an unsocialized (read: evil) dwarf rabbit. I was trying to catch him when he turned around, growled, and jumped straight up at me. I think he was aiming for my jugular! At least that is the way it was imprinted in my mind.

That growl would strike fear in the heart of a grown man. lol I can relate to the Monty Python movie "In Search of The Holy Grail."