6 Ways to Get Rid of Rabbits

 

In their natural habitat, rabbits are cute and enjoyable creatures. Gardeners, however, often have less favorable viewpoints. Rabbits can cause considerable damage to flowers and vegetables in home gardens. Rabbits can also cause damage to woody trees and shrubs over winter.  When damage becomes unacceptable, control measures are in order. 

Here are 6 ways to get rid of rabbits 

Experiment With Unpleasant Rabbit Odors

The easiest solution is to experiment with scattering scents around your yard that rabbits reportedly hate. Either dust some of these items on plants (rabbits are sensitive to dusty items) or sprinkle them around plants. Otherwise, dilute liquids with water and spray to deter rabbits. Consider trying the following:

• Talcum powder
• Vinegar
• Ammonia
• Mothballs
• Chili pepper
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Citrus peels
• Dried sulfur
• Irish Spring soap shavings

Plant Rabbit-Deterrent Herbs

Just like deer, rabbits are not a fan of many of the same plants so by incorporating these herbs into your yard, you will deter both animals. There are many rabbit–deterrent plants and flowers but consider growing these herbs for starters:

• Rosemary
• Mint/catmint
• Lavender
• Bee balm
• Thyme
• Yarrow
• Sage
• Alliums/chives

Install Garden Fencing

For immediate protection against wildlife, use fencing around the garden. Chicken wire with 1/2- to 1-inch mesh effectively deters rabbits. Make fences at least 2 feet high to prevent rabbits from jumping over. Extend the fencing 6 inches below ground or secure it tightly to stop burrowing. Electric net fencing is suitable for temporary control.

 

Protect Individual Plants

Use 1/4- to 1/2-inch mesh chicken wire or hardware cloth to form cylinders around new trees, shrubs, or vines. Bury the fencing 6 inches deep to prevent burrowing. Provide several inches of clearance around the plant and, if the fencing is flimsy, add bracing to prevent the rabbits from pushing the netting and reaching through to nibble.

Modify the Habitat

If you have found evidence of rabbit nesting, remove it, and modify or block off the area to keep them from coming back in. Proactively reduce nesting options by removing low shrubbery branches that provide harborage for rabbits. Eliminate tall, dense vegetation and wood and debris piles. Control vegetation along fence rows. Seal spaces beneath buildings.

Apply Repellents

Chemical repellents can be applied to some trees, vines, or other plants that are in danger from rabbits. But these can create an unpleasant odor, taste, or stickiness. Because of this, most repellents are not suited for use on vegetables or other food plants, as they can make the plant inedible for humans. In addition, repellents often work only for a short time and need to be reapplied frequently. If you choose to use a repellent, carefully read and follow all label directions before use.

Trap as a Last Effort

Live trapping of rabbits is an option, but it is usually not recommended that you do this yourself because it can be challenging to deal with the trapped animal. Because rabbits are considered agricultural pests in many states, and because they can carry disease, there are often laws that regulate where and how you can release wild rabbits.

 

What Attracts Rabbits to Gardens?

Rabbits can, and will, eat just about any tender plant, so they are naturally drawn in by home gardens. In the spring, they will feed on newly sprouted grass and clover; in the fall and winter when food is less available, they will survive on whatever bark and seedlings they can find. But all too often, the rabbits’ favorite food is the same food loved by the homeowners: the delicious produce found in vegetable gardens and on fruit bushes. Favorites include vegetables such as beans, beet, broccoli, carrot, lettuce, and peas; herbs such as cilantro and parsley; and nuts and fruits such as almonds, apples, berries, plums, etc. For good measure, many rabbits are also quite fond of ornamental flowers, shrubs, and trees.

There are of course other wild animals that also feed on tender plants and gnaw on trees and shrubs; deer, squirrels, chipmunks, woodchucks, and raccoons are all familiar villains in this drama. But when you see plants chomped off and bark gnawed, with the presence of rabbit fecal pellets in the area, it is almost certain that rabbits are to blame. And you may well get verification by spotting the unmistakable tracks of the rabbit’s long back feet impressed in the soil.

How to Get Rid of Rabbits Permanently

Defense against rabbits is an ongoing battle. No matter how you choose to prevent, discourage, or get rid of rabbits—or how successful those methods are for the moment—you will need to be constantly vigilant. Rabbits reproduce like—well, rabbits—and there will always be more coming to investigate your garden and landscape, so it may not be possible to find a truly permanent solution. Ongoing rabbit defense requires:

• Regularly inspecting fencing to ensure rabbits are not getting through, under, or around the barrier
• Inspecting plants weekly for damage
• Watching for rabbit’s signs: fecal pellets, chewed-off plants, gnawed bark, etc.
• Acting as soon as you see the first sign of rabbits

 

Source: thespruce.com©

Photo credit: gardeningetc.com©

Related:  Which Plants Repel Rabbits Effectively? – TUTORING YOU