Getting Rid of Rabbits

[eytonxav]

Our neighborhood borders a wooded area and we are being overrun by rabbits. What is disturbing me is that they feed on the grass in my fenced in backyard and leave behind so many dropping that our dog loves to eat. This is certainly not good or healthy for him, so need to try some things. Not sure whether trapping or repellant would be best. Anyone have any experience with this?

 

[6miths]

If you come up with some magic please let the rest of us know!! Usually it's a matter of making your offerings less attractive than the neighbor's. I've had good luck with this product from Home Depot. You can make your own mixture too but since it contains ingredients such as putrified eggs I tend to let the factory do it. This stuff smells when applied and the odor lingers for those who have good olfactory equipment. Best to apply early in the year so the rabbits/deer get the idea from the outset. I have heard Irish Spring soap, human hair, blood meal can work but haven't had much luck with any of these. Best of luck.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Liquid-...eer-and-Rabbit-Repellent-HG-70109-2/205844053

 

[OldShooter]

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.

 

[calmloki]

heard there is a rabbit virus that may sweep through the wild bunny population:

https://now.tufts.edu/articles/deadly-rabbit-virus-spreads-us

 

[6miths]

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 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!

 

[lrip]

We also have a rabbit problem even though we have a fenced yard. Vegetable garden has chicken wire buried underground 6". Young trees have corrugated drain pipe around them in the winter. What I have found works best is to release the dog every time I see a rabbit. Our fenced yard is rabbit free and the dog loves the exercise. Can't say the same for the surrounding neighbors. Just like moles and every other critter, you can't kill them all. I would just try to make your yard the very last resort for them to hang out in. Works pretty good for me.

 

[pb4uski]

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!

Perhaps we need to merge this with the chest freezer organization thread.

 

[stepford]

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.

 

[Sojourner]

Just like moles and every other critter, you can't kill them all. I would just try to make your yard the very last resort for them to hang out in.

Very true. I see the occasional rabbit hopping around in my backyard munching my weeds, and it doesn't really bother me at all. They seem to ignore basically everything in my veggie garden that I care about. Despite their reputation as prolific breeders, I never see more than about 1-3 different animals per year, and their numbers aren't increasing. We do have our fair share of hawks and birds of prey, so I suspect nature is keeping everything pretty well balanced that way.

As to the question of how best to "get rid" of them, I'd suggest installing low (2') wire fencing around the entire backyard, and making sure there aren't any entry/escape holes. Trapping, shooting, or chasing them off only solves the problem for a short while (a few days, maybe) and requires constant, year-after-year vigilance, whereas a good rabbit-proof fence is much more of a "set it and forget it" solution.

 

[Sunset]

I wish we had rabbits, we used to have rabbits, groundhogs, feral cats, possum, and squirrels.

Instead we now have an apex predator: Coyotes, they leave larger droppings and are a danger at night when taking out the garbage, since you never know if they are around.

 

[Teacher Terry]

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.

 

[brewer12345]

We just let the dogs loose and they chase them. Still hop around at night, but you rarely see them during the day. There is still some poop, but not that much since they generally stay out of the back yard. The front yard where we cannot let dogs loose the rabbits are so dumb you could probably hunt them by throwing your shoe.

 

[braumeister]

The first thing to remember is to be vewwy, vewwy, quiet.

 

[REWahoo]

 

[Animorph]

Our wild bobcats really did a number on our rabbit population. We hardly see rabbits anymore. The neighbors aren't sure that was a great trade.

 

[eytonxav]

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.

We also have coyotes, bobcats and foxes, plus we have an indoor only cat due to the other predators. However, the rabbits are so prolific these other predators don't come around enough as we are in a zero lot line community that probably keeps them away.

We just let the dogs loose and they chase them. Still hop around at night, but you rarely see them during the day. There is still some poop, but not that much since they generally stay out of the back yard. The front yard where we cannot let dogs loose the rabbits are so dumb you could probably hunt them by throwing your shoe.

Sure, my dog loves to chase them, but we don't leave him out all night and its usually late night when they start to munch.

Our wild bobcats really did a number on our rabbit population. We hardly see rabbits anymore. The neighbors aren't sure that was a great trade.

At least we don't have feral hogs.

 

[brewer12345]

Then get a pellet gun and make rabbit stew.

 

[sengsational]

This is certainly not good or healthy for him, so need to try some things.

I'd like to back this discussion up a bit. How you you "know" this. It's gross, true. But is it documented to be harmful? Who knows, maybe the dog's microbiome will be improved by the with inoculation with "bunny biome".

DW's solution to bunnies eating her dahlias is "I'm not going to plant those anymore". I set up a camera. Not quite "red handed", but close:

 

[brewer12345]

I'd like to back this discussion up a bit. How you you "know" this. It's gross, true. But is it documented to be harmful? Who knows, maybe the dog's microbiome will be improved by the with inoculation with "bunny biome".

DW's solution to bunnies eating her dahlias is "I'm not going to plant those anymore". I set up a camera. Not quite "red handed", but close:

They are pretty frequent carriers of tapeworms. No thanks.

 

[GravitySucks]

They are pretty frequent carriers of tapeworms. No thanks.

My friends cat caught and ate a rabbit. $400 vet bill to get rid of the tapeworm.

The first thing to remember is to be vewwy, vewwy, quiet.

View attachment 35771

Agree. Sometime it's best to get an expert involved.

 

[eytonxav]

I'd like to back this discussion up a bit. How you you "know" this. It's gross, true. But is it documented to be harmful? Who knows, maybe the dog's microbiome will be improved by the with inoculation with "bunny biome".

DW's solution to bunnies eating her dahlias is "I'm not going to plant those anymore". I set up a camera. Not quite "red handed", but close:

Google it, rabbits carry diseases, and our dog has thrown up from eating their droppings.

 

[RobbieB]

I'd use a air rifle, but at least a .22 with some good (800 fps) velocity.

 

[jollystomper]

I try to have an agreement with the local wildlife - you stay x number of feet away from the house, we leave you alone. Otherwise...

This spring I saw more rabbits running around on my property than I could recall. To the point where I accidentally ran over one with my riding mower (coming around a bush, several ran out, one unfortunately directly into my path). But in the last month there seemed to be fewer. I think I found out why. Last week I was walking up our driveway, past a spot where there are low bushes between a couple of trees. A bird was flying through the gap, I must have startled it because it suddenly veered up and dropped something that fell and skidded to within 6 feet of me... a freshly killed rabbit. D**n nature, you scary!

I think the local birds of prey have been finding good pickings in my area.

 

[street]

I live cage/trap them and take them in country and let them go. They are easy to live cage trap them. An apple, carrot alfalfa hay in back of cage and you will catch them.

 

[MRG]

I live cage/trap them and take them in country and let them go. They are easy to live cage trap them. An apple, carrot alfalfa hay in back of cage and you will catch them.

Probably how the OP was infested.........[emoji4]