The day before Thanksgiving, wildlife rescuer Karenlynn Stracher was simply waiting to pick up a pie at a bakery near her home on Long Island.
Then her phone buzzed.
On the other end was an urgent message: A small animal was trapped along a waterfront dock — and the tide was rising.
Pie in hand, Stracher rushed out the door and drove straight to the scene.
A local woman who lives on the water had been standing on her dock when she spotted what looked like a fuzzy lump wedged deep inside a crevice in the bulkhead. At first glance, it barely registered as anything more than debris.
Then she noticed it was breathing.
It was a rabbit.
And with the tide rolling in, the tiny animal didn’t stand a chance if he stayed there.
Stracher arrived within minutes, grabbing a net and carrier before stepping carefully onto the dock. The situation became more nerve-wracking the closer she got.
“When I saw the rabbit in person, my heart sank a little bit,” Stracher said. “It was lower down than I thought, which meant my net would have to be extended very far — and the further it extends, the less precise control I have.”
Below them, the water crept higher.
There would be no second attempt. If the rabbit bolted or slipped, he could fall straight into the rising tide.
“I knew I only had one chance to make this catch,” Stracher said. “The rabbit’s life depended on it.”
Holding her breath, she slowly lowered the extended net into the narrow crevice. One wrong move could send him scrambling.
In a split second, she made her move.
The net dropped perfectly into place. With swift precision, she scooped the rabbit up and lifted him safely onto dry land.
You can watch the rescue unfold in a video here:
The tense silence broke into relief.
Back on the dock, Stracher carefully examined her rescued patient. Miraculously, he wasn’t injured — just frightened and soaked in stress.
Moments later, she carried him to a safe area and opened the carrier.
The rabbit didn’t hesitate.
He darted away toward freedom, disappearing into nearby brush as if nothing had happened.
“Watching him run away was the most exhilarating feeling!” Stracher said. “This is a situation where I clearly made a difference in this creature’s life — and, to me, that’s what wildlife rescue is all about.”
One minute he was a forgotten “fuzzy lump” in a dock crevice.
The next, he was a life saved — just in time for the holidays.
To help other animals like this rabbit, you can make a donation to Karenlynn Stracher via her Amazon wish list.
