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Eagle Lake Remembers
Jackrabbits? You mean those long, long-eared creatures who hid in the bluebonnets? Why we hardly see one any more, not even with budding spring. They may still be common in thought, but are not plentiful in sight. In our childhoods in Colorado County one couldn’t travel by any means without coming upon the long, lanky, and abundant Jackrabbit in all corners.
These rabbits ranged from 18 to 28 inches long and weighed between 4 and 6 pounds. That’s a mighty good size for a rabbit. But actually, ole ‘Jack,’ was not a rabbit, he was a ‘hare.’ He was named by settlers because of his long ears, which they thought made him look like their ‘jackasses/donkeys.’ Thus the name ‘Jack’ stuck.
Jack could leap up to 20 feet and run at 45 miles an hour over short distances. No one could catch the elusive ‘Jackrabbit” of Colorado County. The difference in our “hares” and “rabbits” is the length of their ears and legs, the rabbit being shorter. Also, jackrabbits are born with a full coat of hair, their eyes wide open, and ready to hop. No wonder they’re so strong. Rabbits, however, are born hairless, eyes closed, and totally dependent. So there is a difference.
Anyone riding in the country would always see numerous ‘jacks.’ They became so plentiful that farmers and ranchers had to begin an eradication plan to save cattle crops and food. The hungry and fast-moving jackrabbits were often seen devouring each new crop. Riding horseback, I had many close calls to being thrown off when Mr. Jack decided to jump out in front of an unsuspecting steed.
Some people ate rabbit for food. Others sold their pelts. Others went on jackrabbit hunts for sport. What we don’t recall is that in the early 1930s in Texas and around the country these jackrabbits numbered in the tens of millions. Farmers hunted rabbits with dogs to control the population. In the depression the rabbits ate many of the crops needed for families and their livestock.
Jackrabbit Drives became common. Families and friends would gather over numerous acres creating noise to move the rabbits forward into smaller fenced sections where they would eventually be eradicated in those areas.
The Drives were the most effective method of eradication of the time. There were jackrabbit drives here in Colorado County using horses and men and guns. Many drives were held on Saturday mornings. The jackrabbits greatly consumed newly growing row crops. These tender plants, along with bales of hay, were destroyed.
Even after jackrabbit populations were brought under control, rabbits were imperiled by various classes of ants in Texas which killed their young. Some ants sprayed acid onto the babies as a defense. Nonetheless, the jackrabbits were resilient and iconic creatures of the Lone Star State.
Wolves, foxes, and coyotes, were also predators. Now jackrabbits are affected by climate, pest control chemicals, water access, and encroachment upon their natural habitats, in addition.
Where did all the jackrabbits go? As we clear our forests and farmlands there are fewer of their prairie and wooded habitats. As a consequence, we have fewer and fewer jackrabbits and see far fewer in Colorado County than before. “Want to go on a jackrabbit hunt?” “What is that?” say the young, as they travel to mars on their smart phones in a reality game.
Even so, Mr. Jack, we’ll never forget you.
