Rabbits!

Cute little cottontails are no longer cute. They've eaten the caladium shoots and munched through a hosta. Our little dogs chase them around the backyard but they clearly have established a home out back. I've never had to deal with them before. Suggestions?

I had the same problem the first time, last year. I bought a bag of cocoa bean shell mulch. Kind of expensive, but it actually worked! Try it out. I haven't seen too many bunnies, yet............................. but the first time I do, I'm going to have to look for more cocoa shells. Hope you have success.

P.S. If you enjoy the smell of chocolate, there is at least the benefit of the nice odor.

I will take your advice! I have always like the look and smell of the cocoa shells yet they are a tad expensive.

Forgive me for horning in on this thread, but Alice, may I where you found your cocoa shell mulch? years ago I could get them at Home Depot, but they no longer carry them :-(

I heard once that Hershey sells them?

I see bags of the cocoa hulls at most garden centers...not the big box stores. The only drawback is a swift wind can blow them away and they are expensive. I see them used on sections of gardens (no one could afford an entire garden full) and the smell on a sunny day is fantastic.

I found the shells at a local landscape supply house in Riverhead on Long Island where I live. They don't always get them. But yes, I also heard Hershey offers them for sale.......................I don't know if it was a joke or not. Have to look that one up. There's got to be other mulch around that is harsh enough for a rabbit to not want to step on it.

Do beware of coaco shell mulch if you have dogs. Some dogs like to eat it, and they can get sick or even die from the theobromide in the chocolate. How much they would have to eat I would imagine depends on the size of the dog.

I have heard that sprinkling bloodmeal around your plants will deter rabbits. Also spray on predater urine, like fox or coyote. I have not tried these, but heard they work. I have problems with rabbits sometimes myself. Last year they were eating all my echinaceas, and I wasn't getting to enjoy them blooming. Will have to try these tricks this year if I have problems again.

Karen

Thanks for the info., Karen. Although I don't have dogs, my neighbors dogs visit on occasion. Bloodmeal works good,too.
Alice.

My 5 year old grandaughter chases them away, yelling "get away from those flowers you bad rabbit. Oh no you don't. And don't you dare eat the shiny ones (tulips)." Works on the rabbits. The baby woodchuck, however, ran back at her, scaring us all.

They make great stew.

Rabbits, woodchucks or both? Or grandaughters? Can't be my grandaughter, she's too tough. She's a yellow belt in karate. (Can you believe they have a yellow belt in karate? Scary)


If you only have a small property, this wouldn't be feasible, but we planted a large area with clover, and the rabbits hang there, and do little damage to our plants.

Yes, they love eating the clover in my lawn. That's one reason why I leave it. The other is that it's softer on your feet than grass is!

Oh, someone else who likes clover in the lawn. I happen to love the clover myself, and wouldn't think of touching it with weed killer. Any other weed can leave, but the clover has a home at my place. Maybe that's why the rabbits haven't eaten much in my gardens. But they did really like the echinacea last year, and consequently I never got to see it bloom.

Karen

Never had them eat Echinacea. Plenty of other stuff though.

We have a small bunny living under our deck. I've been trying to convince my husband that it really needs to move but he thinks it's cruel to force it out. I keep telling him that once that cute little rabbit finds a mate and starts a family under the deck, it won't be so cute.

How's the cocoa mulch working for you, GG?

Lora

LoraB - maybe your husband could catch it and pay to have it nuetered so it won't start a dynasty under your deck.

LOL! He wouldn't even be able to have that conversation, much less actually do it!! Just the thought of it makes him cringe!
*still chuckling*
Lora

Lora - you do realize Cat was talking about the RABBIT having the procedure, right??!

I started using deer scram and it seemed to work the clover is blooming now so maybe that's why they've left my plants alone?
Here's a partial list I found of plants rabbits tend to avoid
Iris,Salvia,catmint,astible,lavender,bee balm,daffodils,lambs ears, veronica, yarrow hellebore
There were some others that had blue/purple flowers but I didn't write them down because I don't use those colors in my gardens

Deer Scram did not work for me, I'm sorry to say. Neither did Invisible Fence.

I used garlic oil on my tulips and they weren't eaten. It smelled like death, vomit and poop all mixed in one. I guess the rabbits didn't like it either. Ugh.

so tell me - if they eat all the echinacea, does that mean they never get colds????

It's funny - the people in work were having this same conversation - about the rabbits - I suggested the clover...

First they have to eat the Gingko so they remember to eat the Echinacea.

lol

Hi victor.
Yes, I did realize that. :-)

Another fun thread!

I use blood meal around the Oriental lilies and Asiatics. They've never bothered with the Echinacea at all - just the new growth on the lilies. People with dogs have huge problems with the blood meal though.

Our neighbors on each side have enough clover for many rabbits and we, too, had them under our deck steps but they left for better "digs". One just tried to make a nest too near our magnolia and I scared him off (probably my umbrella hat or my fire torch did the trick) so he went to the middle of the rear lawn and dug a large hole, which has now been filled and seeded. I have the feeling I'll find a nest when I least expect it.

Look in your favorite flower bed. That's where they always make nests in mine.

I'll keep my eyes open for the bunny and see where she goes. Watching one with nursing young, years ago, I know I couldn't harm them.

My workmate takes a rag soaked with urine of cougar or wolf or some other kind of mean animal..forget which one. He suspends it in a mesh bag nearby the area that is being eaten. He has witnessed chipmunks venture near and scatter away. Sounds like it might work!

Toughest part is asking the wolf to pee for you.

My thoughts precisely, Victor. Here cougar, come here and pee on this rag for me. Sure!

Can cougar and wolf urine be purchased online?

Yes, I've bought and used fox and coyote urine. They seemed to work for a season but really stunk.

Doesn't sound like a great addition to the fragrant garden.

maybe you should just dress up like one - at least it won't smell - unless it's a really hot day.....

A nearby guy has a life-sized statue of a female deer and the local papers featured a story about the buck who attacked the statue in a hormonal rage. Ouch!

Oh, man! We've got blow-up dolls in the animal world too.

I should get one and put in down the street.

You guys are a riot!

Hopefully no one will put a CZJ statue around. Could be embarrassing.