Rabbits can transform a well-maintained yard or garden into a patchwork of damage, consuming vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants overnight. Beyond grazing on foliage, they also cause structural problems by digging burrows, which can undermine foundations, sidewalks, or retaining walls. Since rabbits are protected wildlife in many regions, the most effective approach involves implementing safe, humane strategies focused on exclusion and deterrence.
Physical Barriers for Property Protection
Fencing is widely recognized as the single most effective, long-term method for excluding rabbits from a protected area, especially a garden. The specific requirements for an effective rabbit barrier are dictated by the animal’s ability to jump and its instinct to dig under obstacles. A fence must stand at least 24 to 36 inches high to prevent most cottontail rabbits from jumping over. This height should be increased if jackrabbits are present.
The material must be a sturdy wire mesh, such as galvanized chicken wire or hardware cloth, with openings no larger than one inch. Smaller mesh sizes are important because young rabbits, or kits, can squeeze through surprisingly small gaps. The fence must also be secured to firm posts to prevent gaps and ensure the barrier remains taut against pressure.
Because rabbits are natural diggers, the success of the fence hinges on its installation beneath the soil line. The bottom edge of the wire mesh should be buried at least six inches deep. The buried portion must be bent outward, away from the protected area, to form a 90-degree angle or an “L” shape. This horizontal wire apron, sometimes called a footer, discourages a digging rabbit, as it encounters the mesh material when attempting to tunnel downward.
For individual plants, young trees, or small raised beds, smaller physical barriers can be utilized. Protective cylinders made of hardware cloth should encircle vulnerable tree trunks, extending above the expected snow line. Snow provides rabbits with a higher platform to reach bark. Plant cloches or cages made from the same one-inch mesh material can be temporarily placed over new seedlings or high-value crops until they reach a less vulnerable size. All physical barriers require regular inspection, as rabbits will exploit any breach, gap, or damaged section of wire.
Scent and Taste-Based Repellents
Repellents work by making vegetation or the surrounding area undesirable through either an unpleasant taste or a scent that suggests the presence of a predator. These substances are not a permanent solution, but they can supplement physical barriers or provide immediate protection for certain plants. Commercial formulations often employ active ingredients like putrescent whole egg solids, which emit an odor signaling decay or danger. This odor is detectable to rabbits but often odorless to humans once dried. Capsaicin, the compound found in chili peppers, acts as a powerful taste deterrent.
When applied directly to plants, capsaicin makes the treated foliage extremely unpalatable, discouraging the rabbit from taking a second bite. Combining both scent and taste deterrents is generally considered more effective than relying on a single method. DIY options can also offer temporary relief, such as applying blood meal or bone meal, which are slaughterhouse by-products that act as a scent deterrent to herbivores. Others find success with pungent household items like garlic powder, black pepper, or strong-smelling soap shavings placed around the garden perimeter.
The effectiveness of all repellents is diminished by moisture, requiring frequent reapplication, particularly after rain, overhead watering, or rapid new plant growth. Rotating the type of repellent used is advisable to prevent rabbits from becoming accustomed to a single deterrent over time.
Landscape Modifications to Discourage Visits
Modifying the landscape involves reducing the availability of shelter and secondary food sources, making the property less appealing as a permanent habitat. Rabbits naturally seek areas that offer cover from predators. Dense vegetation, brush piles, or accumulated yard debris can attract them. Removing or regularly clearing brush, rock piles, and tall weeds eliminates convenient hiding spots, forcing rabbits into more exposed areas where they feel less secure.
Securing potential den sites beneath structures is a priority. Rabbits readily use the sheltered spaces under decks, sheds, or low porches as safe havens. Closing off access to these areas with a buried wire mesh barrier, similar to garden fencing, removes these attractive shelter options. Attention should be paid to non-garden food sources that might lure rabbits onto the property. Fallen bird seed, pet food left outdoors, and low-hanging fruits provide easy meals, so eliminating incidental food sources decreases the overall attractiveness of the property, encouraging rabbits to look elsewhere.