The other day on the winding back lane home there was a small REW on the road ahead of me. I stopped and we eyed each other. I quietly got out of my car and we eyed each other. I made quiet conversation as I approached, but he bolted into the hedgerow, which is scrubby and about 8-10' wide at the point, and was quickly lost to view. I turned back to the nearest houses, where I know there are children living, but no-one there had lost a bun, and hadn't seen it either. I asked my neighbour's child to ask at the village school (2 miles away) but as far as we know no-one there has lost a bun either.
Another neighbour has also seen it on the same stretch of the road in recent days. Neither of us ever saw it before. I did think it could be a wildie - albinoism does occur naturally sometimes, yes?
Today I paused the car in the gateway of the field that wraps round the back of that thick hedgerow, and there he was, sitting at the base of a horse-jump. Around the edge of the field were lots of wildies, but he seemed to remain alone. Some of the wildies looked big in comparison (but we do seem to have some mega-wildies around us these days). This makes me think he has escaped or been dumped.
Any thoughts? I was two rickety padlocked gates and a horse-filled meadow away from him, so I didn't attempt to approach. I think I know who is the owner of a horsebox I've seen in that same gateway previously, so I will attempt to find out where they live to ask further.
My question is: how the heck do I catch a small fast bun that doesn't like the look of me, in an open field (if I can get into the field, even)?
Ideas welcome.
Another neighbour has also seen it on the same stretch of the road in recent days. Neither of us ever saw it before. I did think it could be a wildie - albinoism does occur naturally sometimes, yes?
Today I paused the car in the gateway of the field that wraps round the back of that thick hedgerow, and there he was, sitting at the base of a horse-jump. Around the edge of the field were lots of wildies, but he seemed to remain alone. Some of the wildies looked big in comparison (but we do seem to have some mega-wildies around us these days). This makes me think he has escaped or been dumped.
Any thoughts? I was two rickety padlocked gates and a horse-filled meadow away from him, so I didn't attempt to approach. I think I know who is the owner of a horsebox I've seen in that same gateway previously, so I will attempt to find out where they live to ask further.
My question is: how the heck do I catch a small fast bun that doesn't like the look of me, in an open field (if I can get into the field, even)?
Ideas welcome.