Subject: Re: question about rabbit in distress screams
Date: Dec 21 13:57:06 1995
From: Herb Curl - h.curl at hazmat.noaa.gov


Anna Coles asked: I have a question related to the "rabbit in distress"
screams. I've heard birders mention imitating an injured rabbit to attract
raptors,
but I've never heard anyone doing it.

Screaming rabbit calls are used by "varmint" hunters and I suspect you're
more likely to call in a predator than a raptor in suitable habitat,
especially as raptors hunt mostly by sight. There are tapes, calls and
instructional tapes available and if anyone is interested I can supply
names of sources. The calls come in several varieties: screaming
jackrabbit, cottontail and "squeaker" or "coaxer". The last is used when
the coyote is almost in your lap. I think the squeaker would work
especially well on owls, however. Also, they're safer to use in bear
country. A bear or puma, hearing a squalling jack or cottontail thinks
"lunch" and you don't want to be "it" when the bear comes barrelling around
a tree wondering if you have any Grey Poupon. In fact, bear hunters using
a call usually hunt in pairs, facing in opposite directions, so that Yogi
doesn't sneak up on them unaware.

Practical jokers should not mix a screaming rabbit tape in with
someone's relaxation tapes. You'll be scraping jangled nerves off the
ceiling for a week.

Herb Curl

h.curl at hazmat.noaa.gov "You may be only young once but you can be
Hazmat/NOAA, 7600 Sand Pt. Wy., NE immature the rest of your life."
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