Rabbit Problem

[Ken_CT]

We are being overrun by rabbits, they are everywhere. My wife has a lot of flower gardens on the property and I started a small food garden. It seems every time we walk into one of the gardens a rabbit hops out. There hasn't been a lot of damage - yet. Last year we had a fox living in a wooded area next door so there wasn't a rabbit problem, but apparently he moved on. Any ideas on how to get rid of them would be appreciated. I'm leaning more toward repellant sprays or powders to put in the flowerbeds, but I don't know what works. I don't want to shoot them as there are too many houses nearby. Any tips on products or tricks that work would be great.



Thanks,
Ken

 

[Eagleview]

Get yourself a Fox Terrier or two . They just love killing rabbits , rats and mice . They are small enough to fit down the burrows and wont stop until they are exhausted . They are also the best friend you could wish for and economical to run . This is Chewy , 6 years old and a born killer but loves kids and women . He comes with me everywhere and loves to come with me in the truck or tractor and even rides on the fuel tank of the bike .

 

[Z-Michigan]

Our barn cats - who adopted us, not the reverse - do an excellent job. You may not want to see the results depending how squeamish you are, but we have two happy cats and no rabbit problem.

 

[Wombat125]

I don't want to shoot them as there are too many houses nearby.

I was in a similar situation when I lived in town. Rabbits were actually eating the grass in my lawn. Plus, they caused my labs to do laps around the yard chasing them which was also bad for the lawn.

I ended up getting a high power .22 air rifle and only shooting down toward my fence. It was devistating. I had five confirmed kills in one month. The lawn flourished.

I understand not wanting to shoot a firearm in town. Aside from being unsafe, it's probably not legal. However, you might be able to safely and in good conscience reduce their population with the air gun.

 

[Eagleview]

I just found the photo i was looking for . A picture tells a thousand words . I now have to take him for long drives looking for rabbits as he's cleaned them all up in our area .

 

[Bird]

Rabbits make quite tasty eating if you want to kill and dress them out. However, blood meal spread around the perimeter of gardens seems to keep them out. Of course you have to re-apply it after a rain.

 

[Charlesaf3]

cute dog Iron horse.

I'd guess even the smell of dog will keep them away?

Except the vegetable garden. I think you really need to fence that. Mesh into the dirt.

 

[Bird]

Around my vegetable garden is where I used the blood meal. In addition to keeping the rabbits out, it sure did make the grass grow thick and pretty.

 

[reb]

I second the air rifle recommendation. I have a .177 rifle, advertised muzzle velocity of 1100 fps, that works great. You just want to be sure of your backstop.

 

[Eagleview]

Did you guys release the Mixamatosis and Calesey (sp , sp) virus's as we did to get rid of rabbits ? Ours are unedible now . It has also caused an unforseen problem , the Eagle population grew with the abundance of the rabbit . Now with the decline the Eagles have taken to eating dead Kangaroo on the roadsides and are being knocked by cars .