Many gardeners, including Yvonne Brayton, are weary of rabbit problems. Rabbits are on the rampage this year and are relentless in their quest for food. Brayton says they even found a way into her garden that was surrounded by a fence and chicken wire. Sandy Koffman agrees with Yvonne about the increase in rabbits. “We’ve definitely noticed many more bunnies on our wooded property on the ridge of the island,” Hoffman said. “A good part of our property is natural and we see mature and baby bunnies scurrying in and out, so we’re sure we have a nest or two.”
Rabbits are prolific breeders, which often multiplies rabbit problems quickly. Under the right conditions, a pair of rabbits can have about 18 young during one breeding season. Since young rabbits can breed at 4 months of age, this can foster many descendents throughout the year. Another rabbit problem is rabbits are capable of adapting to their environment and thriving in any region of the United States.
With the rabbit population exploding, many gardeners are witnessing an increase in rabbit problems. Rabbits can be very destructive to plants, shrubs, flowers, trees and seedlings. “They attack all sorts of plants, including young trees. I even had damage on a small western red cedar this last winter,” Dave Pehling says. Rabbits can quickly overtake your garden and ruin your prospects for a productive growing season.
Gardeners search for the best solutions to their rabbit problems. Many have found fencing to be ineffective. As Brayton can attest to, rabbits jump or burrow under fences to obtain vegetation. When food sources are scarce, even rabbit-resistant plants are fair game. Trapping can diminish the population, but caution must be taken to release rabbits far enough away that they don’t return.
The answer to the rabbit problem lies in keeping them from your yard in the first place with a powerful rabbit repellent. Affecting a rabbit’s highly developed sense of smell, rabbit repellents mimic the smell of decaying animals. This odor makes rabbits believe a predator is close by, causing rabbits to flee in fear from the treated area. High-potency rabbit repellents only need application a few times per season, mainly as new growth occurs.
Many gardeners choose organic rabbit repellents because they are safe to use everywhere. Organic rabbit repellents bear the Organic Materials Review Institute-listed® or OMRI seal on the label.
With the rabbit population on the rise, gardeners must learn how to protect their plants and shrubs. The right rabbit repellent is a powerful tool in preventing rabbit problems.