Wierd one!....rabbits not scared of fox???

[rob190364 2,594]

Took the mutt for a walk at about 9pm a couple of days ago, as I was walking along a country lane I had a quick glimpse over the hedge and there were probably 10-15 rabbits sitting out in the middle of a small field that I cut through quite regularly. Just as I was about to nip over the turnstile at the far edge of the field to give my dog an easy run at one I notice a fox sitting at the edge of the field right near me, watching the rabbits, probably about 10-15 meters away. So, with my dog being on 13 months old, I decided to give it a miss as I don't think she's ready to face a fox yet.

 

Anyway, I stood watching it for a couple of minutes and then it noticed me and so did a few of the rabbits, which then stamped and warned the rest of the rabbits. The fox ran along the hedge and across the middle of the field and disappeared through the bushes.

 

Now what confused me is the fact that the fox ran off and actually ran through the rabbits to the bushes on the other side and none of the rabbits actually ran off or even looked scared. The fox ran within about 6 feet of some of the rabbits and they didn't even budge.....what on earth is that all about? did they not run because they knew the fox was running away rather than chasing them? surely rabbits aren't intellegent enough to assess situations like that? Well wierd!

 

And then yesterday I was walking down the same road to take the dog for a swim and I noticed something running down the road towards me, at first I thought it was a small dog but as it got closer I realised it was a bloody hare! I ran up to us without hesitating up to about 20 feet and then went under a gate and ran across the field...it was like it barely even noticed we were there.

 

Do I walk through some sort of wierd anti heaven where none of the animals kill each other and everything lives in harmony or what????

 

And before anyone asks....no I won't tell you where it is

[DIDO.1 22,845]

Its strange how close you can get to some prey animals when they know you mean them no harm. When a predator isnt hunting rabbits will often allow it to come quite close, iv seen it on a few occasions. Out with the hounds this morning I saw 100 ducks walking off up a field away from the pond, I was up a hill so had a grand stand view, they were making quite a noise so I stood watching until I noticed a fox walking up the field in front of them. They were following it over the field, though I guess they were trying to keep it in view rather than trying to catch it up.

[Malt 379]

Its strange how close you can get to some prey animals when they know you mean them no harm. When a predator isnt hunting rabbits will often allow it to come quite close, iv seen it on a few occasions. Out with the hounds this morning I saw 100 ducks walking off up a field away from the pond, I was up a hill so had a grand stand view, they were making quite a noise so I stood watching until I noticed a fox walking up the field in front of them. They were following it over the field, though I guess they were trying to keep it in view rather than trying to catch it up.

 

It's the same with crows. You can get to within a few feet of them without them being bothered, unless you're trying to stalk them with an air rifle or something.

[smithie 2,443]

i have put the lamp in a fiend to see fox walking through the bunnies, surely they thought that home was close enough not to need to fle

[2434me 13]

Its the fox they cant see that will get them!