Saturday, June 17, 2017

IT'S DANGEROUS DOWNTOWN

     I live in a small city of 100000 people. Like any other modern city the downtown is much different than it used to be. there are very few stand alone stores. There are the banks, a few restaurants and offices. After hours the downtown is vacant and disreputable character take over the streets. I would not go there.

    Now I'm not an urban person. I could stay away from cities forever. I like the wind , clouds, smells, birds, trees, animals and quiet. I'm attuned to these things. 

    Now I have to go downtown often enough so that I know what's going on. Our main library is downtown. So is city hall and the court house.






    This spring I noticed a jack rabbit in the middle of the busy street in front of the library. Other people had noticed this critter and had seen it many times. They thought there were two of them. The large City Hall Park and court house grounds gave them some good habitat. However, I'd seen this rabbit going down paved city alleys. What a lonely pathetic sight for such an interesting animal. The rabbit I'm talking about is much bigger than any cat.





    Many of the wild critters seem to be able to navigate city traffic. I've seen deer waiting on the road side for a chance to cross.

    Yesterday as I was going down the main thoroughfare I noticed my poor jack rabbit lying dead on the road. Yes, it's dangerous downtown.

36 comments:

  1. So sorry to hear that jack rabbit got caught in the traffic. So sad. :-(

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  2. I hardly every go downtown since I no longer work downtown. Last time I was there I realized just how long it had been since I walked around downtown though I had been there for a few concerts rather than shopping. My goodness I was so tired and couldn't even find a quiet place to buy a coffee and sit down. I felt like I didn't know my city anymore.

    Your downtown looks lovely with the nice park to relax in should you need a rest. At least in the summer or warmer months. Seeing the rabbit was something.

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    1. We are like most downtowns...they have changed and malls have taken over.

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  3. Oh! I was afraid that's where this story was going.
    But you do have some lovely public spaces.

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  4. Well that's cheered us all up! I'm glad to see you seem to have the computer up and working again.

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    1. My computer is working but I still have to buy a new one.

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  5. Oh, what a sad end for the rabbit.

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  6. Ah, the poor thing.
    I love living in nature, even with our bears!

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  7. Oh, poor thing :( It's quite a difficult world for them. When we were living in Kingston, we once spotted a coyote waiting patiently to cross the street.

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    1. I don't think rabbits have figured out traffic like deer or coyotes,

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  8. I was surprised that you live in such a large city. I had you pictured writing from a small town! Crazy bunny. It looks like he has plenty of flowers and green grass but I'm sure he would be much happier being a country rabbit.

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    1. There are fewer predators and lots of food in town so they prefer living in town.

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  9. Oh, that is a shame about the jackrabbit. Urban environments are hard on animals, for sure. (And on some people, as you pointed out!)

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    1. I'm always surprised by the amount of critters you report.

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  10. Such a sad ending. Poor rabbit.

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  11. No one likes a sad ending but unfortunately they do occur. I feel bad for the poor rabbit. The city can be rough on all living creatures as you pointed out.
    Have a good week ahead!

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  12. Sad to hear> It is hard in the city for small creatures!

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    1. There's some good and bad. There's lots more food and far less predators. However, the traffic is a problem

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  13. Aw, that's so sad the rabbit was killed. I'd love to live the small town, simple life again one day; much the same is happening in Edmonton so the nights downtown I also avoid.

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  14. That is so sad to hear about your jackrabbit. I have read that a lot of critters in the cities you would normally only find in the country.

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  15. The people of Red Deer should raise money to build a monument, recognising the important role that the jack rabbit played in city hall politics - advising the mayor and leading on a wide range of social programmes.

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    1. This critter goes one further. He's there to crap all over some of the dumber idea from city hall!

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  16. Sometimes they can adapt but city life is tough and it is sad to see them. Coyotes now have adapted to city life in Denver.

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  17. Hi Red - nice to be online. recuperating from rotator cuff pain - due for cortisone shot on Wednesday. I have missed your stories, but hoping to catch up. Poor Jack Rabbit. That is sad. Lovely shots of your downtown.

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  18. Poor rabbit. It happens every once in awhile with groundhogs here that have their run of the lawns- if they cross onto the busy street alongside that lawn, they might not make it.

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  19. Traffic is about as bad as the regular predators. At least both tend to bring a quick death. I'm always surprised by the amount of wildlife in our back yard.

    Our downtown is empty, too, except when there are outdoor celebrations going on. I walk quickly to my car when I'm working late.

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  20. The poor bunny, I always feel sorry for wildlife out of their regular habitat :(

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  21. Yep, whenever man and wild animals have interaction, the animal seems to suffer.
    Your photos are really good! Even better when enlarged.

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  22. thank you for mentioning you magnificent town through your post and photos .
    i witnessed a painful death by village naughty kids when i was teenage and cried like hell .it still exist in unpleasant part of my memory

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  23. Hi Red, Enjoyed the photos of downtown. My goodness, I never thought that Red Deer would have any disreputable characters taking over the streets at night. It happens for sure in Seattle, but Red Deer? Things are sure changing, aren't they?

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