Jack rabbits attack walkers in Sonoma County; man bitten, woman forced to evade jack rabbit

kpix.com ^ | 3/29/02 | NA

[vikingchick]

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (AP)

Sonoma County musician Doug Bowes will remember this Easter season as the one where he happened upon the Easter Bunny, and it attacked him.

Bowes was walking near his home at about 11 a.m. Wednesday when the attack occurred. A small, gray jack rabbit bounded toward him from a nearby fence.

``I thought, 'Gosh, this is somebody's pet,' '' Bowes said. He put his hand down in a friendly gesture and the bunny lunged and bit him.

Bowes began to walk home, nursing a sore hand with broken skin, but the rabbit followed him. A short time later, a nearby neighbor had to retreat up a hill after another aggressive jack rabbit forced her back.

Bowes had to get rabies shots and faces five additional vaccinations, though area health officials say it would be rare if the animal had rabies.

``If it were (rabid) it would make history,'' said David Yong, director of laboratory services for the county public health division. No rabbit has tested positive for rabies in Sonoma County in the past 16 years, Yang said.

[dighton]

Scary, one of them almost killed Jimmy Carter.

[goldstategop]

California Killer Rabbits on the attack. Film at 11.

[vikingchick]

ping

[vikingchick]

LOL. Imagine that. I just pinged you because this is your kind of story.

[dighton]

Ya gotta be real real quick.

[Dan from Michigan]

OUCH. Rabies shots are probably the worst kind.

Time to call Elmer Fudd(hehehehheheh)....especially if it's duck season...he always shoots the duck...

[isthisnickcool]

They get a little pissy right before Easter.

[CheneyChick]

[Washington-Husky]

These jack rabbits obviously saw that movie "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" one two many times. (You know, where the savage killer rabbit attacks the knights?)

(Or as Frank Zappa would call them, "weasels that rip my flesh!")

[strela]

"That's the most foul, cruel, and bad-tempered rodent you ever set eyes on!"

"You tit! I soiled my armour I was so scared!"

"Look, that rabbit's got a vicious streak a mile wide! It's a killer! He'll do you up a treat, mate!"

[blackbart.223]

"These animals are ferocious and dangerous."

Nothing a .22 long rifle won't cure. On the other hand, rabbits seem to only attack city people. Is there a message here?

[dighton]

Weasels Ripped My Flesh

[Washington-Husky]

Thanks for the pic, Strela. I guess we were on the same wavelength!

[strela]

LOL ... great minds and all that.

[Washington-Husky]

Thanks for that pic-link! LOL!

Yeah, that phrase "weasels that rip my flesh" has been a part of my subconscious vocabulary ever since I first heard that Frank Zappa tune. Funny stuff!

[Washington-Husky]

Nothing a .22 long rifle won't cure.

I been thinkin'... Killer rabbits? Hey, no problemo, why not sick them Killer Bees on them?

[vikingchick]

[gcruse]

[blackbart.223]

"I been thinkin'... Killer rabbits? Hey, no problemo, why not sick them Killer Bees on them?"

I assume you mean the rabbits, not the city slickers.

[PA Engineer]

I saw the headline and hoped that someone brought the "Holly Hand Grenade" with them. ;-)

[Washington-Husky]

Hey, it's Friday night, what the heck... take 'em both out!

[blackbart.223]

I shot one of those in my front yard this morning. Don't tell PETA.

[strela]

Rabies shots are nowhere near as painful as they used to be. All they are now is a series of 6 shots; one at the site of the animal bite and the other 5 in the arm, over a 30-day period. Its still not a pleasurable experience, but the new treatment beats what one used to have to get for rabies prophylaxis.

(Shudders, remembering a childhood friend a few years back that had to get the shots, 27 of them, all in the stomach).

[Washington-Husky]

Don't they taste just like chicken? ;)

[Charles Henrickson]

"Follow. But! Follow only if ye be men of valour, for
the entrance to this cave is guarded by a creature so foul,
so cruel that no man yet has fought with it and lived!
Bones of full fifty men lie strewn about its lair.
So, brave knights, if you do doubt your courage or
your strength, come no further, for death awaits you all
with nasty, big, pointy teeth."

[blackbart.223]

"When guns are banned, it not only makes the world safer for criminals, but for Killer Jack Rabitts to."

Food for thought.

[AmericanVictory]

Already saw it back in the '50's. Have they colorized it now?

[gcruse]

Had to be self defense.

[Bill Rice]

"Scary, one of them almost killed Jimmy Carter."

I'll bet you can't find that picture anywhere online! I recently spent a whole evening trying.
I found lots of references to it, but never the picture.

If it was anyone but a RAT, that pic would be everywhere!

[blackbart.223]

"Don't they taste just like chicken? ;)

I coulnd't say. From what I hear, jack rabbit is a little to stringy for eating. But they are good target practice.

[vikingchick]

I couldn't find it either. !

[blackbart.223]

"Had to be self defense."

No. Just a preemptive strike.

[Optimist]

TIM:

There he is!

ARTHUR:

Where?

TIM:

There!

ARTHUR:

What, behind the rabbit?

TIM:

It is the rabbit.

ARTHUR:

You silly sod!

ARTHUR:

Go on, Bors. Chop his head off!

BORS:

Right! Silly little bleeder. One rabbit stew comin' right up!

TIM:

Look!

[squeak]

BORS:

Aaaugh!

[dramatic chord]

[clunk]

ARTHUR:

Je**s Chr**t!

TIM:

I warned you!

ROBIN:

I done it again!

TIM:

I warned you, but did you listen to me? Oh, no, you knew it all, didn't you? Oh, it's just a harmless little bunny, isn't it? Well, it's always the same. I always tell them--

ARTHUR:

Right. How many did we lose?

LAUNCELOT:

Gawain.

GALAHAD:

Ector.

ARTHUR:

And Bors. That's five.

GALAHAD:

Three, sir.

ARTHUR:

Three. Three. And we'd better not risk another frontal assault. That rabbit's dynamite.

ROBIN:

Would it help to confuse it if we run away more?

ARTHUR:

Oh, shut up and go and change your armour.

GALAHAD:

Let us taunt it! It may become so cross that it will make a mistake.

ARTHUR:

Like what?

GALAHAD:

Well... ooh.

LAUNCELOT:

Have we got bows?

ARTHUR:

No.

LAUNCELOT:

We have the Holy Hand Grenade.

ARTHUR:

Yes, of course! The Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch! 'Tis one of the sacred relics Brother Maynard carries with him. Brother Maynard! Bring up the Holy Hand Grenade!

ARTHUR:

Right!

One!... Two!... Five!

GALAHAD:

Three, sir!

ARTHUR:

Three!

[angels sing]

[boom]

[vikingchick]

That is one ugly bunny. :)

[vikingchick]

Monty Python: life imitates art.

[vikingchick]

Happy Easter to you too. The bunnies shall prevail, just you watch. :)

[Washington-Husky]

Oh dear, methinks it's a Great White Shark Rabbit! Run for your lives!

[jrewingjr]

Just when you thought it was safe to go out for a walk ...

[Washington-Husky]

I been thinkin'... there was a movie once called "Killer Klowns from Outer Space", so, why not "Killer Jackrabbits from Sonoma County"?

[Optimist]

terrific 8-)

[jrewingjr]

This just in, apparently the attacker was of the lepus californicus persuasion, a previously persecuted group, and therefore will not be charged with a hate crime in the attacks.

Police artist rendering of suspect.

[vikingchick]

Happy Easter, one and all.

[Washington-Husky]

That is indeed a most foul looking rodent! Quick, where's the Holy Hand Grenade?