It all began with…

A bunny named Billy

At first, we assumed they were wild like Billy.
Boy... were we ever wrong. Looking back now, it almost seems funny.After doing some research, we learned that people actually release domesticated rabbits into the wild. Apparently, this isn't just an Oregon problem. It's a problem all over the world.We tried feeding them and taking care of them, but most of the group moved on after a couple of days. Two rabbits broke away from the group and decided
to stay with us through the rest of the summer and into late fall.They made their home under our shipping container.We brought them fresh water, vegetables, and Timothy hay, although they seemed perfectly happy eating pine needles. They did, however, love our vegetables and bunny cookies.We ended up naming the two buns. Jolly because he was always so happy to see us, and Holly because she loved hiding in the wild Oregon grape bushes that reminded me of holly bushes. The names rhymed, and for me, that was a win-win.One night, it was 0° outside, one of the coldest winters we'd ever spent here.
Matthew heard scratching at the sliding glass door.
We couldn't believe it. There was Jolly, practically saying, "Hello... let me in."Matthew looked at me. "What do I do?""Let the bunny in.""Just let it inside?""I don't think the cat will hurt it. Besides, I'm pretty sure the rabbit is potty trained."At the time we were absolutely convinced Jolly was a boy. Jolly let us believe that...
right up until the vet corrected us.We tried closing the door behind Jolly, but that completely freaked the bunny out,
and Jolly ran right back outside.
For the next two weeks, Jolly lived on our front porch, coming inside every evening for a while for some fresh veggies, a little visit, and then hopping right back out.We started noticing a routine. Every day, Jolly would leave the porch,
hop behind the hot tub for a potty break, then come right back to the same favorite spot. Jolly was a very clean bunny.Then one night, Jolly came in for good and claimed our living room. We made a hay box, put out fresh water, and before long Jolly became the bossy bunny of the house.
The cat was not amused by this long-eared cat with no tail.A few days later, Jolly started ripping up the carpet around the sliding glass door.
As much as it broke my heart, we had to open the door
because the bunny couldn't keep destroying our carpet.A couple of hours later, Jolly was back, scratching at the door.
About two weeks went by. Then one day Matthew walked in holding his phone."You've got to see this."It was a tiny baby bunny, smaller than a soda can.
One eye looked like it was completely gone.Matt took some lettuce over to where the bunny was hiding
near our recycling and garbage cans.
Before we knew it, three more little bunnies came hopping out.Obviously, we decided Jolly was simply a worried new father.
Suddenly, everything made sense."What a good bun dad," we'd say. "He's checking on his babies."There was no way those babies could have survived without their mom,
but we couldn't figure out where Holly was hiding.By week three, we had seven
little bunnies living under our deck. They were super skittish and lightn
ing fast, and we were completely torn.
What were we supposed to do with all these little babies?We were at maximum capacity with Jolly the bun and
Buttons the kitty in an 800 square-foot house.I started calling vets and shelters. They were full. Worse yet, many shelters weren't even taking rabbits anymore. These little bunnies were pretty much our problem.One clinic told us we could bring them in to be euthanized. I was devastated. I couldn't believe that was even being suggested. Clearly, that wasn't an option for us.Matt and I decided to keep feeding them until we can adopt them out.One day, after a trip to Costco, we came home and spotted one little orange bunny we'd named Georgie running across the snow. It scared us to death.
Had it been dark, we never would have seen that tiny bunny in time to stop."Grab the bunny kibble, I’ll get the lettuce. We need a head count!”I panicked. My favorite little runt, Chipmunk, was missing. That was all it took. We grabbed boxes and gloves, then started catching baby bunnies one by one.We couldn’t let them run loose in our house because there was too many places to hide we were in the middle of a remodel and our living room looked like a storage unit. The most logical thing I could think of was to put them in my claw foot bathtub.Jolly could take a break the bunnies were safe, we showed Jolly where we put his bunnies, he could’ve cared less. Jolly went back to the living-room.The next day we loaded everyone up and headed to the vet.
We wanted to find out whether the babies were boys or girls, and we were hoping the vet could help the one-eyed bunny.Imagine our shock when we found out
the bunny  we'd lovingly named 50 Cent actually had an eye.
It was just severely infected.If that wasn’t enough shock for one day.
The vet came in and told us that Jolly was not going to get neutered because
Jolly was a GIRL!!I will never forget when the vet said, "Jolly is going to give birth in about 2 to 3 days."Being the bunny expert I was... all of three weeks into rabbit ownership...
I argued with the vet.They’re clearly her baby bunnies. "Sorry to tell you bunnies give birth about every 33 days and you get pregnant within an hour after having a litter of kittens."
We didn’t know whether we should laugh or cry."I’m sorry did you just say kittens?"Apparently, I had a lot to learn and so did Matthew.Still naïve and completely in shock, I said,
"So... hopefully she'll only have four or five."The vet smiled. "Sorry, it doesn't work that way.
As big as she is, I'm guessing she'll have about seven or eight.""No way! We only have an 800-square-foot house,
and these six already live in my claw-foot bathtub."Two days later, just like the vet predicted, Jolly gave birth.
Only... she didn't have seven or eight babies. She had NINE!
Apparently, Jolly liked proving all of us wrong.OH, COME ON!!!!What on earth were we going to do with 16 rabbits? I was still grieving over the loss of Chipmunk, but I was grateful that Holly, who was now clearly the Dad,
did not wish to live with us.Holly reappeared by spring and stayed around for a couple summers
keeping watch over his kids.Then one day, like Billy, never returned.We instantly went from rescuing one rabbit to becoming overnight grandparents.I won't lie, Holly and Jolly changed our lives forever.Over a very short time, our little family grew into what we now call The Bunny Brigade.
Every rabbit in our colony traces back to Jolly and their dad, Holly.Today they're all spayed and neutered, living together in the Bun Mansion with a Bunny Garden where they spend their days digging tunnels, zooming through the dirt, stealing hearts, and occasionally testing our sanity.None of this was planned.We never woke up and decided we wanted a rabbit colony.One little stray bunny was smart enough to knock on our door asking for help...
and led us down a rabbit hole we never could have imagined.The rest is still being written.

First Litter

Maxi

👑 Maxi ~ GirlTitle: Assistant to the Queen
Favorite Food: Cilantro
Known For: Those magnificent mutton chops.
Nickname: Maxie’sEvery queen needs someone to keep the Bunny Brigade running smoothly.That's Maxi.She's instantly recognizable by her giant mutton chops that bounce around every time she runs, making her look like the Lorax from Dr. Seuss. We can't prove she was Jolly's firstborn, but she certainly acts like the oldest child.Maxi is an observer. She watches everything before deciding whether you're welcome in her space. Depending on her mood, she'll happily let you hang out... or politely encourage you to leave. Just like her mom, she has a bossy streak.When cookie time rolls around,
Maxi refuses to be last in line. She enjoys treats of all kinds, but cilantro will always be one of her favorites.Unlike most of the Bunny Brigade,
Maxi doesn't seem to mind being picked up. She'll relax in your arms long enough to collect a few kisses
before getting back to keeping the Bunny Brigade in line.She spends much of her day making her rounds, following the other bunnies and keeping the peace.The other bunnies often bow their heads when they hop up to her,
and if they're lucky, she'll reward them with a little kiss on the forehead before continuing her rounds.Jolly may be the queen, but Maxi is most definitely her assistant.Cuddly. Astute. Old Soul.

First Litter

50 Cent

👑 50 Cent
Title: King of the Harem
Favorite Food: Arugula
Known For: Being a lover, not a fighter.
Bunnie Batch: Seal Point
Nickname: 50The first thing you'll notice about 50 Cent is how unbelievably handsome he is. His Sealpoint markings make him look like he belongs on the cover of a bunny magazine, and his fur is so soft and fine I've often wished I could clone him into a little stuffed bunny.He's never been interested in being the loudest rabbit in the Bunny Brigade. He's happiest doing his own thing. At feeding time, we even make sure he has his own little patch of hay where he can eat in peace.
Cookie time is a different story. The second he hears the cookie bag, he comes running out of wherever he's hiding like an excited little puppy. Then he'll politely step away from the crowd, wait for us to toss him his cookie, grab it, and disappear back into hiding.Arugula has always been one of his favorites.
Sadly, 50 Cent isn't as fond of being picked up as he used to be. He'll grunt his opinion if he thinks we're about to scoop him up. Every once in a while, though, we ignore his complaints because a month without kissing that sweet face is simply too long.When one of the girl bunnies isn't feeling well, there's a good chance you'll find 50 Cent sitting quietly beside her. That's just who he is.Handsome. Sweet. Observant.50 Cent's story began with heartbreak. He was the first baby Matthew discovered, and his eye was so badly infected we honestly weren't sure he even had one. After a visit to the veterinarian and the right medication, his eye healed beautifully, and we eventually learned he was the only boy in the first litter. That's when we started joking that he had a harem.For a little while, we considered giving him a different name, but after binge-watching Power, "50 Cent" just stuck. Behind the gangster name, though, he's exactly the opposite.He's never wanted to rule the Bunny Brigade. He's always been our lover bunny, not a fighter. But don't let his kindness fool you.
If he's ever confronted, he definitely knows how to hold his own.

First Litter

Georgie

👑 Georgie ~ Girl
Title: The Quiet Observer
Favorite Food: Romaine lettuce, cookies... and arugula if you're feeling generous
Known For: Speaking fluent human
Bunnie Batch: The Oranges
Nicknames: Georgie Girl and Georgie PorgieIf every bunny has a different personality, Georgie proves that quiet doesn't mean invisible.
She has always marched to the thumping of her own little bunny feet.She was named after the 1966 song "Georgy Girl" by The Seekers, and somehow the name fit her perfectly from the very beginning.
Apparently they spelled it wrong. 🤣 We fixed that part.While the rest of the Bunny Brigade is usually busy causing chaos, Georgie would rather find a cozy corner, watch everyone else make questionable decisions, and judge them from a safe distance. I'm convinced she understands every word we say
because she answers us far too often for it to be a coincidence.
A little grunt, a thump, or one look from Georgie can tell you exactly what's on her mind.When Georgie was a baby, she looked more like a tiny mouse with ridiculously long ears than a bunny. She was absolutely obsessed with romaine lettuce, and one of my favorite pictures is of her sharing breakfast with Maxi on the little ramp we built from our clawfoot tub down to the bathroom floor.Long before there was a Bunny Mansion,
Georgie unknowingly changed the course of all of our lives.If you've already read Holly and Jolly's story, you know exactly why. She'll always be one of the little heroes behind the Bunny Brigade...
even if the rest of the Bunny Brigade hasn't quite figured that out yet.As Georgie grew older, she changed too. After everyone was spayed and neutered, she decided she'd much rather have her own peaceful space than compete with the rest of the Bunny Brigade.She lived in the living room with Jolly for about a year... until Jolly made other arrangements.Today she happily lives in her own little condo inside the Bunny Mansion. The other bunnies still visit, they play together in the garden, and when she's had enough socializing, she simply heads home to enjoy the quiet.If rabbits had careers, Georgie would absolutely write nonfiction. She notices everything, misses nothing, and somehow manages to communicate exactly what she's thinking with a few little grunts and thumps.Sweet. Skittish. Wonderfully Picky.Completely herself, Georgie has taught us that not every bunny
needs to be the loudest one in the room to leave the biggest mark on your heart.

First Litter

Lorelei

👑 Lorelei ~ Girl
Title: The Movie Star
Favorite Food: Extra-crunchy romaine
Known For: Making all the boys swoon
Nicknames: None. Lorelei needs no nicknameFrom the very beginning, we always thought Lorelei was a girl.
She was so tiny and petite, much like Georgie,
and there was just something about her. She was very neat and tidy.
She simply acted like a girl.
For a while, I considered naming her Cleopatra. Looking back, I probably wasn't that far off.I first fell in love with the name Lorelei because of Gilmore Girls. Before that show, I'd never even heard the name. Then, when our bunnies came along, we had been watching Lennon the Bunny on YouTube. Lennon's mom, Lorelei, taught us so much and helped put us on the right path when it came to proper bunny care.
Suddenly, the name I already loved felt even more perfect.
Now it was a namesake. Thank you, Lorelei.Lorelei was the first black bunny born into our little family. Matt and I have always had a thing for black kitties and bunnies
because they seem to be the last to be adopted which we find very sad.
This tiny black bunny stood out from everyone of her
brothers and sisters in more ways than one.Today, Lorelei is the only completely black bunny in the Bunny Brigade, which means she stands out in a family full of spots, calicos, seal points, and oranges. She's still tiny and petite, but don't let that fool you.
There is a whole lot of attitude packed into that little black bunny.After the second litter came along, we started noticing something funny.
The boys loved Lorelei. They would cluster around her,
follow her around, and generally behave as though she were the most fascinating creature they'd ever seen. Unfortunately, there would also be fights over her.Apparently the Bunny Brigade has its own Elizabeth Taylor.
If Lorelei had a career, she'd absolutely be a movie star. Not a bunny actor, though. Lorelei isn't interested in performing for anyone. She'd simply arrive, look fabulous, collect her admirers, and leave when she'd had enough.
She has standards at home, too.
Her romaine needs to be extra crunchy, so I soak it in cold water for her, if it doesn’t have the crunch. And while Lorelei doesn't mind being picked up long enough for a quick kiss,
don't get any ideas about carrying her around.
Pick her up. Give her a kiss. Put her back down. Those are the terms.
There really isn't a long list of funny quirks to tell about her here.
She's simply Lorelei.Popular. Independent. Sassy.Some bunnies need a long explanation. Lorelei never has…
she knows exactly who she is, and apparently so do all the boys. 🖤

First Litter

Pip

👑 Pip ~ Girl
Title: The Peacekeeper
Favorite Food: Cilantro and apples
Known For: Always fitting right in
Bunny Batch: The Calicos
Nicknames: PippiFor the longest time, Pip was one of the bunnies we thought might live in the house permanently. She was ridiculously adorable as a baby, with perfect fluff everywhere, and she spent more time visiting us on our bed than almost any of the others.Our bed was so high off the ground that we surrounded the babies with little bumpers because we were terrified someone would launch themselves off the edge
and smack their tiny head. The bumpers couldn't actually stop them, of course, but they slowed them down enough to give the nervous humans a fighting chance.Pip got her name because as a baby, she reminded us of Pippi Longstocking.
She was social, adventurous, curious about everything and
always seemed ready to say hello to whoever came along.Which makes the Pip of today pretty funny.
She's become our go-with-the-crowd girl. Pip doesn't need to be the center of attention, but she likes being in the mix. She fits in almost anywhere and would much rather hang out with the Bunny Brigade than spend time alone.Unless everyone escapes.
When the rest of the Bunny Brigade manages to break out of the garden and we're running around trying to catch rabbits with nets, there's a very good chance Pippi will still be sitting peacefully inside the mansion.Suckers. I'm not getting caught with a net out there. 😂She's pretty chill about most things, although she does have boundaries. If Pip is eating, leave Pip alone. She does not want to be picked up, interrupted or otherwise inconvenienced while there's food involved.We learned another boundary when she was young. Pip was the first bunny to ever bite either one of us, and unfortunately, I was the lucky recipient. She got me halfway through my middle finger, and it took weeks to heal.
Lesson learned…don't put your fingers in front of a bunny's mouth.
Pip has never bitten Matthew, and she's never made a habit of biting anyone.
Apparently I simply needed training.Her favorite treats are cilantro and apples. As a baby, she'd eat apple so enthusiastically she'd end up with little apple-juice foam around her mouth, followed by an unusually long grooming session to get herself perfectly clean again.
If Pip had a career, she'd happily work in data entry.
She doesn't want to run the company.
She doesn't particularly want to talk to the customers. She just wants to be around everybody, do her work, collect her paycheck, buy her groceries and go home to eat.Quiet. Chill. Peacekeeper.The adventurous little Pippi grew up into one of the easy-going bunnies in the Brigade.
She doesn't need to lead the crowd or fight it.
Pip is perfectly happy just being part of it. 💕🐇

First Litter

Charlie Bear

👑 Charlie Bear ~ Girl
Title: Master of Stealth
Favorite Food: Sugar Cubes (Don't worry. We keep them out of reach... most of the time.) 😂
Known For: Sneaking off with the best snacks
Bunny Batch: The Calicos
Nicknames: Charlie (original name), Charlie Bear in Your Underwear 💕The first thing you'll notice about Charlie Bear is her beautiful lionhead mane. She's absolutely gorgeous, and she knows it. Just don't expect her to let you admire her too closely. Charlie is very much a look, don't touch kind of bunny.
She started out as simply Charlie, but somewhere along the way she became Charlie Bear. One look at that fluffy lionhead mane, and the nickname just stuck.
As she's gotten older, Charlie has decided affection should be on her terms.She doesn't need to be the center of attention, and honestly,
she doesn't need much from us... unless we're carrying food.
Charlie has developed a very expensive sugar habit
from copying her mother living in the house.
The house bunnies know exactly what sugar cubes are because of my side hustle, and Charlie can hear that sugar bag crinkle from another room.
She'll hop right over her own mother if she thinks she's about to miss out.
She's even climbed onto my worktable and pulled down expensive sugar molds
trying to get to the good stuff. Now all the sugar molds are kept under lock and key. 💕
Vegetables? She has opinions.
Arugula? Absolutely.
Butter lettuce? Fine.
Green grape? "I'll eat it if I have to."
Red grape? Now we're talking.
She is definitely one of our picky eaters.
Sitting in her hay box without her mom around is her ME time.If rabbits had careers, Charlie Bear would make an excellent spy. She has an incredible talent for sneaking up behind people without making a sound,
and half the time you don't even realize she's in the room
until she's already helping herself to whatever she thinks belongs to her.
Independent. Strong-willed. Sneaky.
Charlie's life has taken more twists and turns than most of the Bunny Brigade.
She moved between the house and the Bunny Mansion more than once before finally finding her perfect match in Star.
The two became bonded and inseparable.
Star spent hours grooming Charlie, and we believe he loved her so much that he groomed himself into the blockage that ultimately took his life.Watching Charlie grieve after losing Star changed the way we understood rabbits forever. We'd always known they formed bonds, but seeing her mourn for so long showed us just how deep those bonds can be.These days, Charlie has learned to carry on.
She now shares our home with her mom, Jolly,
and she's perfectly content with that arrangement.She still keeps everyone at arm's length.
She still sneaks sugar whenever she thinks she can get away with it.
And as far as she's concerned, we're still just the people in charge of the snack deliveries.
Jolly and Charlie Bear are our house bunnies,
so you'll see them pop up on our YouTube channel
from time to time. They won't be part of our daily livestreams...
at least not until we build them a bunny run on the front porch.Think catio... but bunny style.

Second Litter

Bambi

👑 Bambi ~ Girl
Title: The Wild One
Favorite Food: Carrot Tops
Known For: Looking like she belongs in the wild and usually being the first one to dig out
Bunny Batch: Bambi
Nicknames: BamBamDon't let that innocent little face fool you. Bambi is one of the first bunnies willing to help the rest of the Bunny Brigade escape the garden.She's a short-haired beauty with one of the softest coats of all the buns, huge eyes, and the distinction of being the only bunny who genuinely looks like she belongs in the wild. In fact, if she hadn't been born right inside our home with the rest of the second litter, I would swear Billy was her daddy.Bambi has decided her physical appearance should also be a lifestyle.She's easily in the top three when it comes to digging out of the garden. The other bunnies will follow her, too. She's a leader, but she isn't trying to be. Bambi simply has somewhere to go, and if everyone else wants to come along, that's their business.If we look outside and suddenly see bunnies running around where bunnies are definitely not supposed to be, one of us will usually say:
"Dammit, Bambi." 😂
Most of the time, we're right.If Bambi could talk, she'd probably sing, "Give me land, lots of land..." like the old cowboy song. She refuses to be bossed around by the other rabbits, and she isn't particularly interested in being bossed around by us either. Sometimes she'll let us pick her up. Most of the time her attitude is pretty clear:I'm busy. Put me down.When Bambi was a tiny baby, she was one of the first to figure out how to thump. I considered calling her Thumper, but that was so obvious and a little unoriginal.
So I went with who she reminded me of…Bambi.
With those doe eyes and that perfect little bunny face, it fit.In fact, Bambi's baby photo is the very first baby bunny you see at the top of this page under The Bunny Brigade.If Bambi had a job, her first career would've been an Olympic jumper.
Her second would definitely be land development.
She's been attempting unauthorized expansions of the Bunny Garden for years.Independent. Wild. Highest Jumper.Don't try to put Bambi in a box. She's always been her own bunny,
which is exactly why her Bunny Batch classification is simply:
Bambi. No one else in her family looks like her.One could say...
she refused our classification system
long before she started refusing our fencing system.

I’m not for sure how it started, but during the first litter for whatever reason, we started calling Pip and cookie the calico’s not like they looked anything like a calico cat so I’m not even for sure how I came up with a name, but it kind of stuck,
then we have the oranges, The blacks, The oatmeal, The seal points and the cows.We now find that when they’re running around in the garden and we need to tuck them in bed at night it’s easier to count in bunny batches.💕This was our original list:The Calico’s - Pip and Charlie Bear
The Blacks - Lorelai and Star
The Oranges - Maxi, Georgie, Bailey
The Oatmeals - Cookie and Kitty
The Seal Points - 50 Cent, Jackson, Roo
The Cows - Jersey and Valentina
BambiNot to confuse anyone, we also had the long and the short hairs category😂💜Longs - Maxi, 50 Cent, Pip, Charlie, Bailey, Cookie, Kitty, Jackson, Jersey and Valentina
💚Shorts - Lorelei, Georgie, Star, Roo and Bambi
🧡9 girls and 6 boys

We're still bribing everyone with cookies long enough to get their interviews. 🍪🐇
Some rabbits are naturals in front of the camera.
Others have demanded more snacks, better lighting, and complete editorial control.
Check back soon to meet every member of the Bunny Brigade, learn their favorite treats, biggest mischief, funniest quirks, and the rescue stories that made them family.

Pardon the Hay!

Our bunny warren is still under construction.
We're busy adding bunny bios, videos, rescue stories, and a few surprises along the way.
Thank you for hopping by while we finish fluffing the nest. 💙

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