Winter Scenes rabbit hops into February cartoon contest

Wildlife in my Washington, D.C., suburb seems to include the normal range of chipmunks, squirrels, birds (including geese at this time of year) and stray cats. I even see the occasional fox and deer.

We also seem to have a significant population of rabbits. And the rabbit on the 2020 Winter Scenes stamp (Scott 5539) looks like the natives I see in my garden most days.

This forever stamp will be the cartoon caption contest stamp for February. So far as I am aware, this stamp marks the third appearance of a wild rabbit on U.S. stamps. The first two were on 22¢ stamps (Scott 2290, 2305) in the 1987 North American Wildlife pane of 50.

I am, of course, not counting Bugs Bunny who, despite television appearStamps USPSances, has never been seen in my garden. I also am not counting other fictional rabbits, symbolic rabbits and tame bunnies that have appeared on U.S. stamps.

However just three months after the U.S. Postal Service released the Winter Scenes stamps on Oct. 16, 2020, it issued a nondenominated additional-ounce Brush Rabbit stamp in panes of 20 (5544) and coils of 100 (5545).

The cartoon contest stamp shows a photograph of a cottontail rabbit in the snow. This rabbit seems poised to say something, and I wonder what?

Your task is to imagine yourself in the rabbit’s fur and tell me what you think he might be thinking or saying about his errands, his place in the animal hierarchy, the humans he comes in contact with or runs away from, politics, stamp collecting or whatever else comes to mind.

Entries with a touch of humor or irony stand the best chance of winning the contest.

There will be two prizes given to the winners: one for the best philatelic line and one for the best nonphilatelic line.

Put your entry (or entries) on a postcard if possible and send it to me, John Hotchner, Cartoon Contest, Box 1125, Falls Church, VA 22041-0125; or email it to jmhstamp@verizon.net. If you send an email, it is essential that you include your postal mailing address.

For each winner, the prize will be a 13-week subscription to Forever Stamp Store’s (a new subscription or an extension).

Entries must reach me no later than Feb. 25.

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