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Now, I Truly Know What A Thicket Is

1K views 6 replies 7 participants last post by  Dean 
#1 ·
Hi all,

Just wanted to share a "fun" adventure I had with Belle (she's not pictured in my avatar, that's Gunther and his elephant).

Anyway, Belle "The Bun-i-nator Olson" lives for bunnies. I take her out every morning and every night in prime bunny finding conditions on a 20-foot lead and we track rabbits. One of the places we walk is a little path through a community that has a pond/marsh in the middle is surrounded by thick brush and trees. You cannot see through this.

I always let Belle stalk the bunny (usually we get within two feet!) and then I run with her -very fast - while she chases it, which isn't too hard because the bunny always dives into the brush pretty quick. Then if it is somewhat a straight line, I let her go in until the lead is tight and then say "this way" and she wiggles her way back - after awhile sometimes.

The other day, we chased a bunny into the brush and she was pulling so hard I let the lead slip in until I couldn't see her, but it was not too far - I still had most of the lead. Then, I heard a tiny yelp and could see the tops of the bushes move and hear her a bit, but she did not come out.

So, panicked mom that I am, I headed into what I now know is a thicket. This was NOT easy. Every bush and weed in this area had major thorns both little and very big, plus at about ankle level was this meshy network of vines and roots and it was impossible to move.

She was actually only six feet in and even though the brush was thick, it was only a foot or so taller than me, so I maganaged to grab vines and climb through with my legs totally tangled until I found her trapped under the network of webbed vines and roots. She couldn't move and was squashed down because she couldn't fully stand up either.

Needless to say, I ripped the vines apart (thorns and all) and lifted her out like a basset medivac. I plopped her on the path, kissed her head, ran my hands over her to get off the thorns and she casually resumed her bunny hunting.

Meanwhile, I had been wearing shorts and and a tank top and my face, legs, arms, hands where COVERED with cuts, I was bleeding down my legs and arms and my hands were stinging from whatever is on the thorns.

Belle was like, "la, la, la, let's go get some more bunnies." So we did.

And now, I truly know what I thicket is and why it is so darn safe for rabbits.

Susan O.
 
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#2 ·
Quiet the adventure for you and Belle. I'm so glad you are both OK, and that the scratches quickly heal from the thorns. Bogie Carter loves doing that, also, but I haven't let him go in the thicket after them. We just chase up to that point. Happy Bunny Hunting!!
 
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