The Great Richland Rabbit Drive
Citizens and local youth organize a massive, community-wide rabbit hunt to curb the population explosion of jackrabbits in Benton County.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The rabbit drive last Monday was a great success and, as a result, Benton county is minus between 1,500 and 2,000 “jacks.” About 65 men and boys with guns took part in the drive this year and as nearly as can be ascertained the honor of the biggest bag goes to C. H. Luelloff, of Fruitvale, who killed 130 rabbits. Ladies of the neighborhood followed the hunters in a wagon loaded with watermelons and did their part in reviving the spirits of any who seemed in need of such nourishment. There is talk in local circles of holding these drives at regular intervals and it is to be hoped that some kind of a permanent organization will be formed here with the object in view of waging a continual war on these pests, as it is claimed by those who should know that they are increasing in such numbers that there are five this year to every one last.
“Ladies of the neighborhood followed the hunters in a wagon loaded with watermelons and did their part in reviving the spirits of any who seemed in need of such nourishment.”
Rabbit drives were a common, albeit brutal, response to the agricultural booms and busts of the early 20th century, reflecting the constant struggle of settlers against the harsh realities of the high desert. While the methods have evolved, the tension between regional agriculture and local wildlife populations remains a staple of life in the Tri-Cities.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.