For some reason, I haven't been seeing squirrels in the park in the section between Foster and Melrose, where I've seen as many as a dozen and a half as I go by on the bus. I suspect it's because there are a lot more people in that part of the park than is normal -- or a lot more dogs being exercised. That section is normally pretty much people-free, but I guess a lot of people are still not working and the weather's been mostly pleasant, if somewhat hotter than usual. Maybe the squirrels are self-quarantining.
On the other hand, I've recently seen hordes of rabbits in the neighborhood -- well, four. The most I've ever seen at once before is three; it's usually one or two. I suspect these may be a litter that's all grown up and out exploring the world -- they seem rather playful, chasing each other around then stopping to crop the grass.
I haven't seen many rabbits at the Zoo or in the park around the Zoo lately. I don't know if they're just not coming out or if the Zoo staff have made an effort to thin the population. There used to be quite a few in the Zoo proper. I once saw a rabbit feeding at the base of a shrub at the south entrance; a squirrel was foraging on the other side of the shrub, and, inevitably, they ran into each other. The squirrel levitated about three feet, and the rabbit just disappeared -- they can move really fast when necessary. It was one of those moments.
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