Anyone who gardens knows that wildlife will eat vegetable plants faster than the fruit can develop and be harvested.
My neighborhood has tons of wild rabbits hopping around. The hawks, bobcats, foxes, and coyotes (yes, even in my suburban neighborhood!) live quite nicely on the cottontails.
The predators haven’t eaten enough of the little critters to keep them out of gardens. During the winter, they eat the pansies and anything else that’s edible.
Our back fence is well built and keeps rabbits out most of them time. One day, a little, bitty bunny got in. Mockingbird and I spent several minutes chasing it around the backyard until we herded it out of the back gate and to freedom.
Of course, those tiny rabbits get in just fine. Sigh. Sunday afternoon, we found one hiding out. Easter Bunny, maybe? 😀
(Teeth off those baby veggies, Baby Bunny!)
The front yard is a different story. When I plant broccoli, lettuces, and kale in the front flower beds, I have to watch to be sure the rabbits don’t kill the plants.
One product I’ve used is fox urine granules.
Ewwwwww.
Go ahead get it out of your system. I’ll give you a minute.
…
Feel better?
It’s nicely contained in a sprinkle container, so I can shake it around the perimeter of the garden. Little Bunny Foo-Foo is supposed to think that a fox lives nearby and run away to someone else’s yard.
Like anything that’s a natural remedy, I have to reapply it every so often. And, yes, I wash my hands thoroughly after!
It works, as far as I can tell. Mostly, anyway. I don’t use it all the time, so I’m sure user error has a lot to do with how often the rabbits snack on my plants.
Believe me, the thought of making rabbit stew has crossed my mind a few times. I probably wouldn’t…maybe. If I did, it probably use Hank Shaw’s recipe for German Rabbit Stew. (I love this guy’s website for so many reasons.)
Do you have rabbits or other critters that roam your yard? Do you do anything to persuade them to go elsewhere?