Tracking Rabbits in a Dry Land

           Ty’s white paws pitter pattered against the black asphalt walking path. His tail swung with excitement as he tugged against his leash, overcome with joy at the opportunity to stop and smell the world. He stopped to sniff at some sagebrush, so I took the opportunity to gaze up at the red mountain. It was a clear, early morning, and the air was fresh with the coolness that nighttime brought. A rustle in nearby bushes caught my attention, and a small grey rabbit darted away. A moment too late, I realized what would happen. Ty took off like a bullet, with my arm still attached, and he yanked me into a sprint after the poor cottontail. After finding my footing and pulling my dog away from the chase, I reveled at the fate of the rabbit. Though my dog didn’t catch it, it would probably be in the same danger all its life. These rabbits live too close to human settlement for their comfort because the natural washes which supply water to the plants they eat run right through developed areas. When these washes fill with rainwater, a large portion of the water comes from runoff from the streets. This runoff is usually dirty and cloudy.

           My dog sufficiently calmed, we turned onto a path that led away from the roads, deeper into the red dirt, cacti, and black lava rock. We passed another curve of the natural wash, but I paused in surprise. The plants that grew at the edges and bottom of the wash were lush and thick. They were green, unlike the stubby dry bushes that grew near the roads, and I even spotted some flowering desert willow.

           It was shocking to see the comparison between the two portions of the wash that were in contact with different water sources. It reminded me of the article “Oases in a Dry Land,” which discussed the human impact on the Colorado River. Continued diversion of water from the river lowered its banks, negatively impacting the foliage that grew along it. The decreasing of the plant life, which is a habitat for numerous birds and animals in the area, put pressure on these bird species. We see a scale model in our own backyard of Southern Utah. As the author, David Owen, did in “Oases in a Dry Land,” I urge readers to consider the effect that we have on our natural desert wildlife, and how even the slightest things we do can harm these creatures.