What to do about the bunnies?

[bwframe]

In the past few days I've noticed a half dozen rabbits in my yard. I actually like them, they are cute and quite tasty when you can hunt them.

The problem is that it is nearing garden season. I put out a fairly large garden for my family, NOT for the bunnies. I've dealt with this before. Most of the time, the rabbits are not a big problem. They hang out and nibble a bit, not a big deal. Once in a while though, a whole row of two week old beans get ate to the ground. In other words, I can't trust the bunnies to nibble.

My plan is to restring the electric fence with three wires fairly close to the ground. To go with that, I may mix up a tonic with castor oil, hot pepper sauce, etc. to spray on the area surrounding the garden.

Any other ideas?

 

[Delmar]

That's a good plan. Also you could plant a nice patch of alfalfa elsewhere in the yard.

 

[ATM]

Keep alligators in your yard.


(They won't mess with the veggies.)

 

[Donnelly]

Coyote urine?? That might work.

 

[stilllearning09]

Get a cat.

 

[ATM]

Get a cat.

Possibly as a stand-alone solution

...but I would strongly advise against using felines to supplement the 'gator method.

 

[jeremy]

Hang wind chimes in your garden...

 

[66chevelle]

I use a electric fence every year. I run 2 or 3 wires and ever year I still get 1 very very small bunny inside there. Every time I step over to work in the garden it hops a few rows over but it never runs out. I figure I can let one eat and get big for later. What ever you do make sure you get the round post and insulators it will make it allot easier for you later. If you run your tiller between the rows you can just loosen up the insulators and push them to the bottom and drive your tiller over. I used chicken wire one time and it was a pain in the butt.

 

[1946]

Electric works for me. The two wire method, one high and one low has even kept out deer from the corn.

 

[Indy_Guy_77]

Coyote / fox peepee.

I presume that you currently don't have any dogs or cats?

even if you have an indoor cat, spreading the used kitty litter around the perimeter / between rows MIGHT help.

Might even be able to get a big owl or hawk "dummy" and put it conspicuously near your garden. This'll sure help with birds...not sure about runny babbits.

-J-

OR buy a suppressor for a .22....ahem.

-J-

 

[IndyMonkey]

invite me over during rabbit season.

Outside cat will kill them all.

 

[AFA1CY]

For some reason the title to this thread reminded me of this....

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMjCBe3r4nI"]YouTube - Rabbit Montage to "Ya Wanna Buy A Bunny?"[/ame]

 

[huntall50]

I have beagles so I can't have too many free roaming rabbits in the yard, one day last spring I counted 5 at one time. Thats too many!!! Colibri (sp) .22 round no powder or subsonics for the stray cats. I have tried trapping in a havahart trap but rabbits require a bit more in a trap.

 

[CountryBoy19]

IMHO, those are nuisance animals and could be "dealt with" per DNR regulations.

That would be my course of action. If you're in town a good pellet gun can easily dispatch a rabbit with a well-placed shot.

 

[x10]

I wish you could catch them and bring them to my place, I love watching rabbits and I've got perfect habitat for them I just too many owls, hawk, and coyotes

during the summer when the cover is on we usually get a pop of 2-3 but by the time the leaves are off they become prey,

My dog protects my garden but the Invisible fence keeps her out of the woods and brush beside the house

 

[lovemywoods]

even if you have an indoor cat, spreading the used kitty litter around the perimeter / between rows MIGHT help.

OR buy a suppressor for a .22....ahem.

I like the suppressor idea best!

If you decide to try the kitty litter approach, I can supply you with plenty of that!

 

[schapm]

When I worked at a large greenhouse we put down human hair around the outdoor growing areas. Bunnies smell it and move on. Be warned though, that you will want to secure it down somehow, such as tack it down under a piece of screen.

 

[Expat]

I have a small mesh fence around my whole garden.

 

[OutaAmmo]

Any other ideas?

12 ga. or maybe a 10Ft. Python

 

[rimfire_crazed]

Cat litter or anything with a human scent if you live someplace where there is an *ahem* discharge law. Plenty of ways around that, too. Just remember that you're putting your LTCH at risk with each shot.