Georgia Center for Urban Agriculture

Urban Agriculture, Collection of urban photos.

GEORGIA CENTER FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE

Discouraging Rabbits

Rabbits can do considerable damage to the landscape. For the most effective control, a variety of methods should be tried, including habitat modification, fencing, trapping, chemical repellents and the use of rabbit-resistant perennials.

Removing dense, heavy vegetative cover, brush piles, weed patches, junk dumps and stone piles adjacent to the landscape will help eliminate rabbit habitats. Fencing made from chicken wire, with mesh less than 1 ", can be placed around a vegetable garden or herbaceous plant border. The fence must be at least 2' high with the bottom buried at least 3" deep. You can also use cylinders of 1/4" wire hardware cloth extending higher than a rabbit's reach by placing them around the trunks of individual trees and shrubs. Bury the bottom of the cylinders 2" to 3" inches below ground level and place them 1 " to 2" inches from the trunk.

Live traps, most effective in winter, can be baited with corn cobs, oats, dried apples or rabbit droppings can also be used but then you must be ready to relocate the live animal.

Chemical repellents, which take advantage of a rabbit's keen sense of smell and taste, can discourage rabbit browsing. Try one or more of the following:

Dried blood meal
Mole Med or Scoot Mole
Predator Scent
Repel
Hinder
Human hair
Scott Rabbit
Used kitty litter sprinkled around edges of garden
Animal lard smeared on tree trunks
Onions interspersed with other crops
Ropel and Bonide rabbit-deer repellent

Note: These methods have not been tested by the University of Georgia, so their use is at your own discretion. Before applying, test the safety and effectiveness of products on a small area of your garden first.

Plastic snakes or owl decoys can scare away some rabbits, but often only on a temporary basis.

Another method for ridding the landscape of rabbits is setting half filled quart jars with water around the garden, although no one is sure why this has been found to be effective.

Finally, there are plants that are not as attractive a food source as some others:

Yarrow	Hosta
Monkshood	Red Hot Poker
Wormwood	Geranium
Aster	Iris
Astible	Bishops Hat
Bellflower	Narcissus
Wild Indigo	Yucca
Snakeroot	Oriental Poppy
Autumn Crocus	Lamb's Ear
Foxglove	Sedum
Daylily	Globe Flower
Leopards Bane	Meadow Sage
Meadow Sweet	Bergenia

If the presence of these adorable yet annoying creatures has you stewing, try a combination of the approaches mentioned above to gain the upper hand.

Submitted by: Susan Zaro
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
(DeKalb Master Gardener Volunteer)

For Pesticide recommendations, please see the Georgia Pest Management Handbook Remember: Always follow pesticide label directions exactly.

For More Information: Contact Your Local County Extension Agent.

Trade and brand names are used only for information. The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences does not guarantee or warrant published standards on any product mentioned; neither does the use of a trade or brand name imply approval of any product to the exclusion of others which may be suitable.