Cottontail Rabbit

Leporidae lagomorpha

Description   

Weight: 2-3 lbs

Breeding Seasons: To be Added Soon

Mating: To be Added Soon

Habitat-

Grass lands punctuated by wooded dingles.

Damage

I have no first hand experience with rabbits. They have not been a major source of damage in my area.

Distinguishing Marks-To be Added

House Damage-

Landscape Damage

Protecting Gardens

Protecting gardens is very easy, simply build a fence around the garden that is at least 3 feet high. The beauty is that the fence doesn't even need to be very strong to be effective. You don't have to bury mesh below the ground to keep rabbits out of the garden. But if you want to keep woodchucks out too, then this is how you add it.

G X
A X Fence is to be 3 feet above the ground
A X
R X
D X
E X___________________ Ground Level
N X
. X Extend the fence at least 6" below the ground and bend the out from the garden at least 1 foot.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

You can use 1 inch Chicken wire which is is hexogonal wires twisted together. X is chicken wire. Set stakes around the garden every few feet to hold up the fence. But be sure the fence is not tight. You want the fence to be wobbly. WDC thanks Laura Simon and Tim Julien for their information on this fence. You can have better results with galvanized wire which will result in less rusting.

Protecting Trees

Rabbits can damage trees by chewing the bark and thus girdling the tree. Normally this happens during periods where alternative food is not readily available. The solution is to fence your tree or to wrap it (consult your garden store). Just make sure that you protect the tree trunk high enough to compensate for the rabbit standing on snow.

Plants Rabbits Don't Like To Eat

Unfortunately, we don't have an answer to this question yet. If you have ideas then please drop us an e-mail. However, we have received reports concerning what they have eaten.

Plants rabbits eat include

• Achillea, Short variety
• Asters
• Black-eyed Susans
• Cone Flowers
• Dusty Miller
• Hardy Phlox
• Impatience
• Liatris
• Marigolds
• Petunias
• Rose Buds, low growing
• Rue
• Tiger Lillies

Damage Solutions:

1.We've tried cayenne and other hot pepper but it was not effective.

Disclaimer: WDC seeks to provide accurate, effective and responsible information on resolving human/wildlife conflicts. We welcome suggestions, criticisms to help us achieve this goal. The information provided is for informational purposes only and users of the information use it at their own risk. The reader must consult state/federal officials to determine the legality of any technique in the reader's locale. Some techniques are dangerous to the user and to others. WDC encourages readers to obtain appropriate training (see our informational literature at our Store ), and understand that proper animal damage control involves patience, understanding that not every technique/method works for every situation or even 100% of the time. Your use of this information is governed by this understanding. We welcome potential users of the information and photos to simply ask for permission via e-mail. Finally, WDC welcomes e-mail but understand that all e-mails become property of Wildlife Damage Control.