Every night, just before bed, our backyard turns into a scene from a wildlife documentary.
As soon as I open the door, our dogs bolt outside with one goal in mind: the nightly bunny hunt. It’s the only time I see them move as a true team. They race around the yard from opposite sides. When one is able to flush a rabbit out, the other flanks from the side. Their coordination is surprisingly tactical. And while I never want them to actually catch the poor little rabbit, I can’t help but admire their drive, and secretly appreciate what they’re helping prevent.
Only one bunny, so far, has been harmed on our property. Our dogs are fast, but the rabbits are faster. They somehow know where to escape under the fence and head there at an incredible speed. Still, there’s a part of me that’s grateful for this nightly ritual. They’re not just chasing wildlife. They’re helping to keep the bunny population under control. And that’s something I learned to value first-hand.
The Year of the Bunpocalypse
A few years ago, we lived in Colorado during a season when mange swept through the local fox population. These foxes were the rabbits’ main predators, and sadly, most didn’t survive the year. The next spring? Rabbit overpopulation hit hard.
With no natural predators left, the bunnies multiplied at an astonishing rate. They were everywhere. We saw them in front yards, back yards, parks, streets, sidewalks, ball fields, even the local golf course. It wasn’t just a few cute rabbits hopping around. It was an invasion.
We had different dogs back then. They weren’t really hunters. Actually, they were more like backyard supervisors. They’d chase the rabbits off, but without any real ability to follow through, the bunnies quickly made themselves at home. The rabbits stayed, and invited their friends.
Our Dogs as Wildlife Managers
One one level, I can appreciate their bunny-chasing habit. Their nightly sprints across the yard aren’t just playful, they’re a throwback to natural predator-prey behavior, and a reminder that domestic dogs still carry instincts that connect them to the wild.
While we don’t rely on them for actual rabbit control, their presence and persistence likely makes our yard a little less appealing to rabbits looking to settle down and start a family. That’s a small but important win when you’ve lived through a rabbit infestation.
Of course, I don’t want harm to come to the rabbits. I’m rooting for them too. Just not in my yard. And luckily, the current situation keeps things in balance: the rabbits get their cardio, the dogs get their chase, and I get to avoid another Bunpocalypse.
If you’re curious about how fast rabbits can multiply—and why even a few in your yard could turn into a hundred or more, this article breaks it down. It’s faster than you think.
