Rabbits are generalist, opportunistic herbivores that consume a wide variety of plant material, including shrubs. Their diet changes significantly depending on what is available in their environment throughout the year. Understanding the reasons behind their feeding habits is the first step toward effective protection of landscape plants.
Defining the Rabbit Diet and Seasonal Impact
Rabbits consume the woody parts of shrubs primarily due to seasonal changes in food availability. During warmer months, their diet consists mainly of tender, easily digestible herbaceous plants like grasses, clover, and young flowering plants, which provide necessary moisture and nutrients.
As temperatures drop and soft vegetation becomes scarce, rabbits shift their foraging strategy to woody browse. This includes the bark, buds, and small twigs of shrubs and young trees. Although less nutritious than fresh greens, this material offers a caloric source that helps them maintain energy through the winter. They target the bark to reach the nutrient-rich cambium layer just beneath the surface.
Identifying Vulnerable Shrubs and Plant Preferences
Rabbits show clear preferences for certain woody plants, though a hungry animal will consume almost anything. Shrubs that are commonly and severely damaged include those targeted for their palatability and moisture content:
- Ornamental roses
- Fruit-bearing canes (raspberries and blackberries)
- Burning bush
- Crabapple
- Winged euonymus
In contrast, some shrubs are generally less palatable and considered “rabbit-resistant.” These plants possess features like strong scents, bitter tastes, or tough, thick bark that deters feeding. Examples of less-preferred shrubs include boxwood, lilac, juniper, and spirea. Even resistant plants can be damaged during periods of extreme food scarcity, but they remain a safer choice for landscaping.
Recognizing Rabbit Damage vs. Other Pests
Identifying the cause of damage is necessary for implementing the correct protective measures. When rabbits clip small twigs, they use their sharp incisors to leave a clean, angled cut, often resembling a neat snip. This damage typically occurs low to the ground, generally 18 to 24 inches or less, depending on snow cover.
The primary damage to larger stems and trunks involves girdling, which is the complete removal of bark around the plant’s circumference. This differs from deer damage, which results in ragged, torn edges on twigs because deer lack upper incisors. Vole damage is almost exclusively confined to the base of the plant, often occurring beneath snow or mulch right at the soil line. Finding small, round, pellet-like droppings nearby is a definitive sign of rabbit activity.
Effective Strategies for Protecting Shrubs
The most effective method for protecting shrubs from rabbit damage involves physical barriers. Cylinders constructed from hardware cloth or wire fencing should be placed around vulnerable plants before winter. The mesh size must be no larger than one inch to prevent access, and the barrier should be secured to the ground or buried a few inches to stop rabbits from digging underneath.
The barrier needs to be a minimum of two feet tall and must extend well above the expected snow line. For young trees, plastic tree wraps or guards can shield the trunk from bark stripping. Repellents offer temporary protection using foul tastes or odors, but they must be reapplied frequently and are generally less reliable than exclusion fencing.