Getting Rid of Rabbits

[NateW]

We had 3 rabbits that were eating our ornamentals and I was concerned they would also eat the few vegatable plants we had. Live in a rural location. I bought a Havaheart live trap and over a 2 week period caught two of the rabbits and relocated them about 5 miles away to a field next to woods. The third rabbit I could not catch, but soon disappeared after I relocated the other two. I used honey crisp apple chunks to bait the trap and had only one end (door) open (apple on far side of trip plate). This was after having both ends of the trap open and I just happened to be looking at the trap as it tripped and the rabbit inside ran forward and made it out before the door locked shut. Never saw a rabbit run so fast! Now, with only one door open and one way into the trap, after the trigger plate is tripped, the rabbit can't back out fast enough before the door locks shut.

Over the month I was using the trap, it caught 3 or 4 squirrels, as well (or the same one multiple times). I just let them go on site and hopefully the unpleasant experience of being trapped will keep them away. Honestly, the squirles seemed to be a lot more vicious than the rabbits. I was almost afraid to open the trap door with the crazy squirel bouncing back and forth trying to get out.

 

[brewer12345]

We had 3 rabbits that were eating our ornamentals and I was concerned they would also eat the few vegatable plants we had. Live in a rural location. I bought a Havaheart live trap and over a 2 week period caught two of the rabbits and relocated them about 5 miles away to a field next to woods. The third rabbit I could not catch, but soon disappeared after I relocated the other two. I used honey crisp apple chunks to bait the trap and had only one end (door) open (apple on far side of trip plate). This was after having both ends of the trap open and I just happened to be looking at the trap as it tripped and the rabbit inside ran forward and made it out before the door locked shut. Never saw a rabbit run so fast! Now, with only one door open and one way into the trap, after the trigger plate is tripped, the rabbit can't back out fast enough before the door locks shut.

Over the month I was using the trap, it caught 3 or 4 squirrels, as well (or the same one multiple times). I just let them go on site and hopefully the unpleasant experience of being trapped will keep them away. Honestly, the squirles seemed to be a lot more vicious than the rabbits. I was almost afraid to open the trap door with the crazy squirel bouncing back and forth trying to get out.

Pound for pound, squirrels are tough customers. When hunting, I don't pick one up unless I am sure they are dead. Usually prod them before touching and they get another one in the head if I am in doubt. You do not want to get bit.

 

[bjorn2bwild]

Oy Vey, I live in high density suburban neighborhood that is bordered by a green belt, and I never planted food that attracts rabbits, unless he considers a grass lawn in my fenced in backyard as rabbit food.

When the firestorm blew through here two years ago, most of the animals were consumed along with the vegetation. Upon return to our rather bleak new reality, we noticed one thin, lonely, jackrabbit hanging around the house looking for something to eat. A small patch of withered lawn at a neighbors property appeared to be the only available green forage. Since they had dogs, Roger kept his distance at our place while waiting for nightfall and the opportunity to browse unmolested.
So......softhearted DW brought home a large sack of rabbit chow to set things right. We were not attempting to tame a wild animal, just to help rectify a bad situation.
Now the funny part - for some unknown reason, the crazy rabbit identified me as his* savior. Whenever I filled the dish, he came out of hiding running in circles and kicking his heels up in a fit of joy. He only did this with me. Although slightly more wary with age, Roger is still my pal even though I no longer feed him.
* not verified

 

[braumeister]

I bought a new diesel Rabbit about 40 years ago. Great mileage, around 42 mpg, but terribly underpowered. I was glad to get rid of it.

 

[Freedom56]

Fox squirrels are considered native here, although there is a credible case that they showed up as pioneers came west along the Platte. I enjoy watching them and the dogs keep them scared enough to stay out of the garden. Rats are another matter.

I have not seen rats nor mice anywhere on our property. We have two great horned owls living in the tree behind us that are pretty efficient hunters. We also live at 2000 feet elevation and the area is swarming with raptors. The hill sides that surround our area are loaded with mice and other rodents that these raptors hunt.

 

[Brat]

Some squirrles in the Teton National Park are known to carry rabbies.

In my part of Portland squirrels are known to tease dogs, or maybe best described to develop play relationships with some dogs. One would cherp at my brother's kitchen window to ask the dog to come out and play, then it would run on the fence as the dog chased it arround the back yard.

 

[sengsational]

I have not seen rats nor mice anywhere on our property. We have two great horned owls living in the tree behind us that are pretty efficient hunters. We also live at 2000 feet elevation and the area is swarming with raptors. The hill sides that surround our area are loaded with mice and other rodents that these raptors hunt.

We've got quite a few ringtail hawks here, and saw one with a small rabbit the other day. But I'm not sure they catch the bigger rabbits very often. Certainly not effective enough, as I saw three rabbits within 10 feet of each other happily munching clover the other evening.

 

[WyomingLife]

Maybe we are encroaching on rabbit habitat.

Why the urge to kill them?

For a really thoughtful overview of the impact that homo sapiens have had on other life forms here on planet Earth, see Harari, Y. "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind." We've wiped out a lot of other species already. For food purposes, we have domesticated a handful of others, with the result that those poor animals lead horrific lives.

And for a totally unrelated but really cool and recent write up about nature, see the recent story in the New York Times about swifts, the birds that never land: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/29/magazine/vesper-flights.html.

I think us humans can learn a lot from life around us, and be humbled by it, instead of viewing it as a pestilence to be obliterated because that other creature our ancestors domesticated a few thousand years ago (dog) is now out in the yard interacting with it.

 

[eytonxav]

I am going to try trapping and relocation first and see how that goes. I am not really into shooting or trying to kill the rabbits, and if it had not been for my daughters dog coming to live with us, they would not bother me in the least. The other option if that doesn't put a stop to the rabbit droppings problem will be to install artificial turf since the backyard is pretty small, maybe 20'x60'.

That said, I do like those air rifles that were mentioned, bet it would be fun for some indoor shooting practice.

Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts.

 

[EastWest Gal]

Maybe we are encroaching on rabbit habitat.

Why the urge to kill them?

For a really thoughtful overview of the impact that homo sapiens have had on other life forms here on planet Earth, see Harari, Y. "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind." We've wiped out a lot of other species already. For food purposes, we have domesticated a handful of others, with the result that those poor animals lead horrific lives.

And for a totally unrelated but really cool and recent write up about nature, see the recent story in the New York Times about swifts, the birds that never land: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/29/magazine/vesper-flights.html.

I think us humans can learn a lot from life around us, and be humbled by it, instead of viewing it as a pestilence to be obliterated because that other creature our ancestors domesticated a few thousand years ago (dog) is now out in the yard interacting with it.

Thank you for this post.

This year I decided to leave my extremely small veggie garden unfenced. Also, this year we had only one bunny, a cute runt of the litter with a slightly lame foot. The bunny mostly ate the abundance of invasive grass that overgrows landscaping in unwanted areas, but I fenced my garden for a bit, after s/he started on the onion tops. I'm quite sure bunny has gone to the stomach of some predator (coyote or owl most likely), since there has been no bunny for about 3 weeks. Bunny was unafraid of us, and I left out water when it was really dry.

Several years ago, we had many more bunnies, but less predators. Several bunny nest holes in the yard, about two a year. Last year, I had to clean up bunny innards as a great horned owl cleared our yard of bunnies.

We have had voles which tend to hide out of the way, and chipmunks. Chipmunks decimated my strawberries, so I gave up on that. I have an inground pool, and we leave a floating shelf and ramp on the edge. For the first time, we have had no rodent drownings, which is nice.

One year, a pair of ducks thought our yard an pool would be a great place to raise their babies, instead of the creek 1/4 mile away. We chased them off repeatedly. They left. Later, I discovered a nest of 12 abandoned eggs under a bush (wow!)

It all seems to go in cycles. Abundance of predators, abundance of prey. Abundance of one kind of insect, then a shortage. I'm growing squash and tomatoes, as well as herbs this year. Some years I have more rodent and bug issues, others not. If my crop doesn't turn out, it doesn't matter. Rodents seem to ignore most herbs, BTW. Unless you need every bit of produce in your yard, why not figure out how to live with the wildlife, or make their lives unpleasant enough they go elsewhere?

Another solution is to plant plants that the rodents don't like.

 

[brewer12345]

I have not seen rats nor mice anywhere on our property. We have two great horned owls living in the tree behind us that are pretty efficient hunters. We also live at 2000 feet elevation and the area is swarming with raptors. The hill sides that surround our area are loaded with mice and other rodents that theses raptors hunt.

We have 3 high prey drive dogs, coyotes, owls, raptors, foxes, etc. Doesn't make a dent.

 

[old medic]

I was going to mention this option too. With the way things are going might not be a bad idea to brush up on your marksmanship. And organic, free-range, grass fed rabbit is pretty good. And one gets tons of good luck to boot!

My suggestion is Hossenfeffer

 

[RobbieB]

I have 3 reasons to kill;

1) It's trying to kill me
2) I'm going to eat it
3) It's destroying my property

The third is where the line is eh? But I didn't buy and clear acreage and build on it. I bought an existing K&B tract house. Gophers and rabbits beware. I'll shoot you with the pellet gun and toss your carcass in the garbage.

 

[Walt34]

And organic, free-range, grass fed rabbit is pretty good. And one gets tons of good luck to boot!

I've always wondered how it came to be that a rabbit's foot was considered to bring good luck. It didn't do the rabbit any good, and he had four of 'em!

 

[Markola]

I patched every hole and gap in the fence, so we never have rabbits now.

 

[street]

Check your local ordinances. I'll bet it's legal to shoot air guns as long as it's done responsibly and safely.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying this should be your preferred method, simply that it's probably not prohibited as you assume because air guns don't qualify as "firearms" in most jurisdictions.

Most likely true. I just feel it is not the safest thing to do and my wife would appreciate a flopping rabbits in the yard if I shot one. Lol

 

[veganbetty]

You could just let them live! I love to see bunnies. It makes me so happy. They are sweet little creatures. The issue becomes when people shoot their predators!

 

[ychuck46]

They are

I've shot a few rabbits with my woodchuck gun, a .22 air rifle. I think the more common .177 caliber air rifles would be entirely adequate.

I have had no problem killing all the rabbits I actually can see on our property with a .177 Crosman air rifle. My best shot was at about 70 yards; I was surprised it killed him instantly. The air rifle may not have the sights or the hitting power that my Ruger 10/22 has but it has done the job without having to resort to the .22.

 

[Gearhead Jim]

We had lived in our current house for about 10 years before we saw a chipmunk. We didn't feed them, but thought they were kinda cute and enjoyed watching them dart around the yard.
Then they started sneaking into our garage and building a nest inside the soffit. Followed by getting into a fully-closed Toyota and destroying a bag of dog food left overnight. Etc.

Similar experience with squirrels, they didn't go into the garage but would gather in groups of up to 5-6 on our deck and scratch/chew on the glass door, trying to get into our kitchen. Freaked out my wife, they really looked nasty.

The solution in both cases was big glue traps in the garage; and a Havahart trap (different sizes for different critters) and a laundry tub big/deep enough to hold the trap.
Glub Glub, and Mr Rodent sleeps with the fishes. Before sleeping in the trash can.

The Havahart traps come out as soon as we see the first rodents in the Spring. We eliminate about a half-dozen of each species early in the season, and usually don't have any more than an occasional single after that, which we leave alone unless he/she starts attracting friends.

 

[Vinnygret]

Get some cats? When they were younger my wife's two cats were the scourge of the local rabbit (and squirrel and rat and lizard and bird) population. As they've gotten older they tend to lie around on their fat kitty asses watching the rabbits eat our plants, so go with younger cats for best pest control.

We used to have rabbits, though nnot in disturbing numbers. Since I have been feeding the local fox every now and then, no more bunnies in my yard. I actually miss them. All my neighbors have dogs as well, so that could be part of the reason.

 

[aja8888]

Our Golden Retriever killed anything that moved in our backyard. That included squirrels, rabbits, possums, even got a few crows. Truly a master hunter.

I did the cleanup work for him. He's gone now and we miss him to this day. The best dog we ever had, bar none.

 

[rayvt]

After rabbits ate all $200 worth of bulbs my wife planted, she handed our son a pellet rifle and offered a $1 bounty for every rabbit he killed.

2nd best method is to have a den of coyotes in the area. But then you have a coyote problem.

Now let's talk about deer. They eat everything except weeds and bamboo.

 

[OldShooter]

I have had no problem killing all the rabbits I actually can see on our property with a .177 Crosman air rifle. My best shot was at about 70 yards; I was surprised it killed him instantly. The air rifle may not have the sights or the hitting power that my Ruger 10/22 has but it has done the job without having to resort to the .22.

Yes. My .22 air rifle is set up as a higher power woodchuck gun. When I shoot a rabbit or a 3/4" pine board the pellet goes straight through and out the other side. Overkill. Literally.

 

[sgstaley]

I guess that I would shoot them with the 22, skin them, and fry them in a pan.

I do think that rabbits run in somewhat of a cycle. One year, many, the next year not so many.

 

[Vinnygret]

We have coyotes right in town. Some people still let their cats outside. We call them coyote cookies. People post on Nextdoor for lost cats and the main advice is to keep them inside.

My opinion has always been that an outside cat is eventually a dead cat. Mine is a 12 pound coward and has NO desire to go outside other than our back porch. Cars or critters, something will get the rovers.