Rabbits pose a persistent challenge to gardeners and commercial vineyard owners, as these animals readily consume parts of the grapevine. This issue is particularly acute when vines are young or when natural food sources become scarce. Understanding a rabbit’s feeding behavior and the specific damage it causes is the first step in protecting valuable vines. Proactive measures can effectively shield grapevines from this common garden pest.
Rabbit Dietary Preferences and Grapevine Consumption
Rabbits are herbivores whose diet consists mainly of grasses and herbaceous plants. Their feeding habits shift dramatically with the seasons, making woody plants like grapevines an appealing target during colder months. When snow covers ground vegetation, rabbits must turn to the bark, buds, and young canes of shrubs and trees to sustain themselves.
The parts of the grapevine most at risk are the tender new growth and the bark of the trunk and canes. Young vines, typically one to five years old, are especially vulnerable because their bark is thinner and smoother. Rabbits strip this bark off the base of the vine, a process known as girdling, which can completely sever the vascular system that transports nutrients and water.
New shoots and buds that emerge in early spring are also highly attractive. Adult rabbits generally cause gnawing damage on older, woody growth, while younger rabbits clip off smaller branches and stems. This feeding behavior is driven by the need for fiber and the search for food when their preferred diet is unavailable.
Identifying Signs of Rabbit Damage
Recognizing the distinct signs of rabbit feeding is important for quickly implementing the correct protection measures. The most identifiable evidence is the characteristic clipping of young stems and buds. Rabbits possess sharp incisors, which leave a clean, precise cut on the plant material, often at a 45-degree angle.
This clean cut differentiates rabbit damage from that caused by deer, which lack upper incisors and tend to rip or tear foliage. Rabbit damage is typically concentrated close to the ground, usually within 18 inches of the base of the vine or up to the height of the snow line. Damage that extends higher, up to six feet, is more likely caused by deer.
The most severe form of damage is girdling, where the bark is gnawed completely around the vine’s trunk, often appearing as vertical lines or grooves. If the vine is fully girdled, the section above the wound will eventually die. Finding small, round, pellet-like droppings scattered near the damaged area is a strong indicator that rabbits are the culprit.
Effective Strategies for Protecting Vines
The most reliable method for protecting grapevines from rabbit damage is physical exclusion, which prevents the animal from reaching the plant entirely. For young, newly planted vines, individual trunk guards offer an effective solution. These guards should be constructed from materials like wire mesh or hard plastic and must be at least 2.5 feet tall to prevent rabbits from reaching the vine while standing on their hind legs.
When protecting a larger area, such as an entire vineyard row, a rabbit-proof fence is necessary. This fence should stand at least three feet tall and be made of woven wire or poultry netting with a mesh size of one inch or less. To stop rabbits from digging underneath the barrier, the bottom edge of the mesh needs to be bent outward at a 90-degree angle and buried six inches deep, facing away from the protected area.
Another option is to use taste or scent deterrents, which can be sprayed or brushed onto the trunks and canes, particularly during the dormant season. These repellents, often capsaicin-based or containing Thiram, work by making the vine unpalatable. However, exclusion methods are generally considered more consistently effective, especially when food is extremely scarce.