Rabbit Control and Deterents

Rabbits are gentle, furry creatures that can be quite delightful as pets. However, due to their fast reproductive capacity, rabbits have wreaked havoc to our outdoor plants, bushes, trees and gardens. Wild rabbits will eat whatever food they can find and when food is difficult to find, they will go to the extent of chewing holes in our decks, wooden planters and fences. They are nocturnal and can wreak havoc during the twilight hours.

There are plenty of ways by which we can control the rabbits without harming them. Box traps are a worthy investment. You can place a bait of raw vegetables like carrots and lettuce inside the trap and once you catch the culprit, you can transport if to a safe location such as a wildlife preserve or a wildlife park.

Placing traditional chicken wire around your vegetable patch or garden area is another solution. Dig at least half a foot on the ground where you will lay the foundation of the chicken wire. This will ensure that your garden and plants can withstand the rabbit attack. Plastic guards around your trees and bushes are also good alternatives. So are hardware cloths that are about half an inch thick. These are available at most garden centers. If you want something more affordable, flexible corrugated drainage pipes are great for protecting the trunks of small trees.

If you have a pet dog, they can be good guards of your property as they chase away wild rabbits. Although they are not as fast and as agile as the rabbit, the dogs are good deterrents as the rabbits are likely to avoid coming to your area. There are also other repellants that work. Most sporting goods stores carry fox urine as a wild rabbit repellant. It is effective but can be quite expensive. In this case, you may opt for the cheaper rabbit repellant available at the local garden center. It taste very bad and rabbits will often avoid the areas where they have been sprayed on. You could also try the sonic pest repeller, which is designed to emit an infrared signal which chases away the rabbits and other pests. If all else fails, do call your local pest control professional who will have the appropriate knowledge and background to handle these wild rabbits. This will save you a lot of time and effort and will ensure that you get the best possible solution for your problem.