NEWPORT BEACH : Easter Bunny Has Followers, Skeptics

Hopping down the Bunny Trail isn’t always an easy journey.

In fact, the Easter Bunny was accompanied by two uniformed guards Friday during a visit to Newport Dunes Aquatic Resort.

The appearance of the fabled rabbit in past years has triggered a stampede of youngsters. “They’re after the loot,” said Anne Evans-Quinn, general manager of Newport Dunes.

Children playing on the sand beside the Back Bay definitely paid attention as the bunny began hiding eggs in bushes and behind sprinklers in advance of today’s festivities.

One toddler, undaunted by the security guards, rushed up to touch the bunny’s paw before darting away to hide behind his mother’s legs. Other children were emboldened by their doubts about the rabbit’s authenticity.

“The bunny’s not real. I saw skin right here,” said Kayla Denham, 5, of Newport Beach as she pointed to her wrist. She also commented on sagging fur at the bunny’s waist as evidence of a fake. “You can tell because of the wrinkles,” she said.

Rebecca Carsey, 10, of Pomona made another observation: “The bunny’s wearing tennis shoes. The Easter Bunny doesn’t wear shoes.”

Skepticism didn’t stop Kayla, Rebecca and dozens of other children from following the bunny--who moonlights as Newport Dunes administrative assistant Loretta McGovern--to claim candy eggs.

Today’s festivities are expected to draw hundreds of families who will pay $5 per child to search for Easter eggs and $3 each for a pancake breakfast. Special guests will be about a dozen families from the Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter.