Dust-Bathing Beauties

Among the photos from the 2nd round at the Mono County pygmy rabbitat were several serendipitous series of pygmies rolling and dust-bathing in front of the cam trap.

But in round 3 the Brachylagus bunnies went full-on dust-bath crazy.

The cam captured 18 different dust baths in 4 weeks in August, generating over 100 photos.

Heat? Dryness? Seasonality of fleas and mites?


Sub-adult pygmy rabbit enjoying a dust-bath at 10:25pm


And 2 days later at 4:30am

And while they bathe at various times, morning baths after sunrise seem to be the most popular.

Perhaps for sand warmth and/or dryness.


Different adult at 9:05am


Sub-adult 3 days later at 9:10am

At first glance I thought the Sub-adult Brachy was doing all the bathing. But once I had time for proper editing and photo-forensics, I found that the photos show 3 different pygmy rabbits using the same bath bowl - the Sub-adult, the Lead Brachy, and another large adult from the "end of the sage row" that may be a female. Perhaps Mom Brachy?

Showing the dust bath bowls are communal.

On top of that, the behavior may also be about scent-marking. Several other mammal species visited the bath bowl and sniffed around...


Kangaroo rat in the bowl


Chipmunk


Juvenile black-tailed jackrabbit

And other pygmies also stopped to sniff the area without indulging in a bath.


Pygmy rabbit checking out the dust bath bowl


Different adult pygmy visiting bowl 2 days later





Uh-oh.

Note that the sniffing about knocked a chunk of wood into the bowl. (or is that a Baby Ruth bar?)

But the next morning, the same adult "Mom" Brachy takes care of it.




"It's no big deal"


Moving the chunk of wood with her/his mouth






Clean bowl

Showing the location of the dust bath bowl is significant, too.

Just any ole spot won't do.

Sand quality? Or, because of the scent-marking? Hmmmm...










"Ahhhh... All prettied up and ready for the day"

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References:

• Nature of a Man (this blog) - Splitting Hares 
• Nature of a Man (this blog) - Jealous Jacks
• Nature of a Man (this blog) - I Brake for Brachys
• Nature of a Man (this blog) - Pygmies of the Great Basin

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