Montana Is One Of The Least Pet-Friendly States in America
Rabbits At Risk: Some Species Are Among The Most Endangered Mammals On The Planet
Whether we think of rabbits and hares as the cute, cuddly characters from our childhood storybooks or as pests of epic proportions, we can agree that one thing appears to be true: they aren't in short supply … right?
It may surprise you to learn that several species of rabbits and hares are among the most endangered mammals on Earth. Out of 63 wild species, 22 are considered near threatened to critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Rabbits at riskRemarkable Rabbits, a documentary from The Nature of Things, shows us the critical role that these animals play in our landscapes and ecosystems — and how many of them aren't exactly "breeding like rabbits."
Rabbits fall into a select group of mammals called "lagomorphs," which also includes the lanky and long-eared hares of the open plains, and the short and stout pikas of the mountains. One of the most well-known members of this group is the European rabbit.
Out of 63 wild species, 22 are considered near threatened to critically endangered.
These rabbits have plagued farmers for centuries by digging burrows and causing damage to their crops. European rabbits have also travelled the world, being introduced to foreign lands, and have caused mass infestations in Australia and New Zealand, where they have few natural predators. They have even made it to remote sub-Antarctic islands.
The European rabbit has infiltrated our homes and pet shows, too. All domestic breeds of rabbit — 50 or so recognized breeds exist today — are descendants of the wild European rabbit.
But surprisingly, even the so-called "common" European rabbit is now considered near threatened. And if a species as widespread as the European rabbit could face trouble, it makes sense that many of the other 62 would be at risk, too.
Rare hares and rabbitsThe riverine rabbit of South Africa is critically endangered; fewer than 250 are left in the world due to habitat degradation from agriculture. In Asia, the Amami rabbit is confined to a few Japanese islands and threatened by several factors including commercial development, while the Annamite striped rabbit of Vietnam that was only discovered by biologists in 1999 is already considered endangered as a result of hunting and deforestation.
Some rabbits and hares are habitat specialists, unable to live anywhere but in their native environment, which makes them very sensitive to habitat loss and climate change.
For example, the volcano rabbit of Mexico is only found on the slopes of four volcanoes near Mexico City. The entire species is confined to areas where zacaton bunchgrass grows, as volcano rabbits depend on the plant for food and shelter. But human encroachment and loss of zacaton to livestock grazing and burning for pasture are ensuring these little rabbits have nowhere to go.
Here in North America, the most familiar wild rabbits are the cottontails. Even in the middle of our busy cities, we see Eastern cottontails appearing at dusk and dawn to feed. But certain species of cottontails aren't faring so well.
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In Remarkable Rabbits, we meet the New England cottontail, a smaller cousin of the common Eastern cottontail but one that has suffered massive habitat loss. At the Queens Zoo and the Roger Williams Parks Zoo, wildlife biologists are working hard to save this plucky rabbit.
"People are used to the idea that rabbits breed really easily," says Scott Silver, director of the Queens Zoo, part of The Wildlife Conservation Society. But, he explains, we'd "be surprised at how much work it takes to raise each individual rabbit."
In the course of six years, the team has bred fewer than 200 rabbits for the program. "So each one is really important to us," says Silver.
Sadly, the cutest rabbit in the world is also in peril. The Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit once thrived across America's northwest, but today it's on the Endangered Species List, and conservationists are working diligently to re-establish them in the wild.
Rabbits and hares are crucial to our world's ecosystems. They promote biodiversity by altering the land with their burrow systems and providing a vital food source for predators in every habitat they are found. The additional impact of climate change will force some species to relocate and adjust, but sensitive species could easily perish. And without them, many of our ecosystems could suffer.
Watch Remarkable Rabbits on The Nature of Things.
The Best Rabbit Repellents Of 2024 For Gardens And Lawns
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Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail may be awfully cute, but they also wreak havoc on the garden, nibbling away at vegetables, flowers, and shrubs, but the best rabbit repellents can stop them in their tracks. While Mr. McGregor's solution of baking them into a pie is one option, rabbit repellent for gardens and yards are more humane ways of keeping these pests out of the garden.
Rabbit deterrents include sprays that use foul-smelling organic material such as rotten eggs and garlic to ward off rabbits as well as granules of dried blood and urine from predators to scare them away. There are also physical options, including motion-activated sprinklers that spray unsuspecting rabbits with water and plain old chicken-wire fencing.
Our favorite rabbit repellent is Nature's Mace Deer & Rabbit Repellent Spray for its biodegradable and nontoxic formula, 30-day longevity, and weather-resistant compounds.
This guide will explore all the safe, eco-friendly ways to protect a garden from rabbits while reviewing some of the best rabbit repellent options on the market.
Photo: amazon.Com Before You Buy Rabbit Repellent Before purchasing any type of rabbit repellent, confirm that rabbits are actually the culprit and not squirrels, mice, or other rodents. Rabbits are more active at dawn and dusk, so keep an eye out for them at those times. Look for gnaw marks on the edge of leaves; oval, brown-colored fecal pellets; and rabbit hair in the yard.
Once it's confirmed that rabbits are definitely responsible for the damage, there are various steps that can be taken to deter them. Conscientiously maintaining the yard is a good idea since these critters like to hide in tall grass. Create harmless disturbances like wind chimes, solar-powered LED lights that flash or blink on a timer, and spinning pinwheels. Also consider growing what rabbits don't eat. While rabbits love beans, carrots, lettuce, parsley, peas, and spinach, they avoid produce in the nightshade family and woody plants with fuzzy leaves, milky sap, thorns, and strong scents.
When it is time to choose an effective rabbit repellent, consider the active ingredients to make sure they are sustainable and not harmful to people, animals, or the environment. Some brands contain toxic chemicals, which are important to avoid. The top choices on this list have been vetted to ensure both their effectiveness and safety.
How We Chose the Best Rabbit RepellentsWe researched the best rabbit repellents in their respective categories and discovered that the best options are determined by their type, ingredients, quantity and coverage area, longevity, ease of use, and other special features included by top brands.
We looked at a range of products to repel rabbits that rely on strong scents and tastes, motion sensors, and physical barriers. The most effective options were able to repel a range of animals: deer, racoons, and more, as well as rabbits. The options that rely on odor and taste use ingredients like garlic, peppermint oil, dried blood, clove, white pepper, and meat meal. Other options use water or metal, which are also natural, nontoxic, and effective ways to deter pests.
To suit a variety of property sizes, we included rabbit repellents that offer 50 to 10,000 square feet of coverage with 28.5 ounces to 25 pounds of repellent that are easy to apply or install in minutes. Plus, select options can keep working from 30 to 90 days while withstanding weather conditions including heavy rain.
Our Top PicksInstead of paying a hefty exterminator's salary, check out the list below, which narrows the field to some of the best rabbit repellents by type. They include both bunny repellent spray and physical options. Any of the products below will help with keeping rabbits out of the garden.
Best Overall Nature's Mace Deer & Rabbit Repellent Spray See ItProduct SpecsThis simple and natural rabbit repellent from Nature's Mace combines the simplicity of a ready-to-use spray bottle with a low price, making it an affordable and easy-to-use remedy for rabbit problems. It uses a mix of garlic, putrescent egg solids, white pepper, and peppermint oil in a formula that repels using both taste and scent.
To use, simply spray it around the base of plants. The 40-ounce bottle is enough to treat up to 1,400 square feet. Its nontoxic ingredients make it safe to use around pets and children. After two applications 1 week apart, the spray works for up to 30 days and won't wash off with rain or irrigation.
Get the Nature's Mace rabbit repellent at Amazon.
Runner-up Liquid Fence Deer & Rabbit Repellent Concentrate See ItProduct SpecsSpray repellents offer one of the easiest ways to keep rabbits out of garden spaces, and this Liquid Fence product is one of the best. It uses a mix of egg solids, thyme oil, and garlic, ingredients that rabbits can't stand, to drive them away. Once dry, which takes about 5 to 6 hours, the scent is no longer detectable to humans but remains pungent to pesky animals.
Liquid Fence Deer & Rabbit Repellent resists rain and works for about 3 weeks before reapplication is required. A versatile option, it will also deter deer, another common garden intruder, from munching on the veggies or flowers. This concentrated formula comes in a 40-ounce bottle, which is enough to cover about 6,000 square feet.
Get the Liquid Fence rabbit repellent at Amazon, Lowe's, or The Home Depot.
Best Bang For The Buck Safer Brand Critter Ridder Deer & Rabbit Repellent See ItProduct SpecsThe Safer Brand rabbit and deer repellent is budget-friendly but a total turnoff to rabbits, so it's a great penny-pinching way to keep pests out of the garden. Its main ingredients are garlic, which tastes foul to rabbits and deer, and putrescent egg, which emits the scent of a dead animal, indicating to rabbits that a predator may be nearby. Though the spray's smell is noticeable when applied, after a few hours, it dries and is undetectable to humans.
The weather-resistant formula works for up to 90 days, so as one of the longest-lasting repellents on the market, it's also among the most affordable. It's available in a 32-ounce ready-to-use spray bottle that covers up to 500 square feet.
Get the Safer Brand rabbit repellent at Amazon, Lowe's, Tractor Supply Co., or The Home Depot.
Upgrade Pick Plantskydd Granular Animal Repellent See ItProduct SpecsIf rabbits aren't the only uninvited guests in the garden, consider this repellent that also helps to banish deer, elk, squirrels, and chipmunks among other creatures interested in nibbling on flowers and produce. It relies on dried cow and pig blood to trick rabbits and other animals into believing that predators are near, causing them to flee. Yet it's made of all-natural ingredients and is listed by the OMRI for organic use, so it's safe to sprinkle freely in fruit and vegetable gardens as well as on flowers and shrubs.
Like some other granular repellents, Plantskydd is easy to apply thanks to its handy 3.5-pound shaker-style bottle, which is enough to treat 1,750 square feet (also available in an 8-pound size to cover up to 4,000 square feet). Simply shake the product around the base of plants that are 2 feet tall and shorter. This repellent is water-resistant and lasts up to 8 weeks before needing a reapplication.
Get the Plantskydd rabbit repellent at Amazon.
Best Taste-based I Must Garden Rabbit Repellent Spray See ItProduct SpecsTaste and smell can deter rabbits from a certain area, and this option from I Must Garden is perfect for the eco-conscious consumer dealing with a rabbit problem. It's made with natural ingredients like whole egg solids, garlic, castor oil, thyme oil, white pepper, lemongrass oil, peppermint oil, and rosemary oil.
This biodegradable formula protects plants and vegetable gardens when applied to yards every 3 to 5 days. It has natural stickers for rain resistance, which promotes reliability. Unfortunately, no square footage or recommended application area is listed for this product, so it should be applied to specific areas where rabbit deterrence is necessary.
Get the I Must Garden rabbit repellent at Amazon.
Best Scent-based Enviro Pro Rabbit Scram Professional Repellent See ItProduct SpecsThis granule-based repellent boasts a combination of ingredients likely to banish even the most determined rabbits. The formula includes dried blood, white pepper, clove, meat meal, and garlic, all of which produce an odor that drives rabbits away. Simply sprinkle it around shrubs and gardens where pesky rabbits are prone to invading.
The rain-resistant pellets do not give off a harsh odor to humans, and they will not harm animals or the environment. Rabbit Scram comes in 25-pound tubs, which is enough to cover about 2,600 square feet, making it an ideal option for those with a big rabbit population to contend with or who need to treat a large area.
Get the Enviro Pro rabbit repellent at Amazon.
Best Motion-activated Orbit 62100 Yard Enforcer Motion-Activated Sprinkler See ItProduct SpecsA motion-activated water sprinkler is perhaps the most humane wildlife deterrent available. This sprinkler detects encroaching critters and gives a strong burst of water to startle rabbits and other pests, driving them away. It pairs a powerful sprinkler with a motion detector that scans the yard day and night. When it senses motion, it unleashes the sprinkler, hosing down the intruder and causing it to flee.
With a 120-degree viewing angle and range of 40 feet, this sensor can pick up movement over an area of 1,600 square feet. The motion detector, which has an adjustable line of sight, can also discern between movement from animals and blowing trees and plants, eliminating false triggers. A long spike keeps the sprinkler firmly rooted to the ground. The Yard Enforcer uses four AA batteries and attaches to a standard garden hose. In addition to repelling animals, this model also doubles as a sprinkler with a programmable 30-minute timed watering cycle.
Get the Orbit rabbit repellent at Amazon, Ace Hardware, or The Home Depot.
Best Physical Amagabeli 48- by 50-Inch Hardware Cloth Chicken Wire See ItProduct SpecsSometimes the best way to keep rabbits out of the garden is by placing a strong physical barrier between them and the plants. With its small ½-inch holes, this chicken wire is ideal for creating a fence around a garden, keeping even the smallest bunnies out.
A 19-gauge thickness makes it durable while still being thin enough to cut with wire cutters for installation. The 4-foot height is tall enough to keep out even larger rabbits. It comes in 50-foot-long and 100-foot-long rust-resistant galvanized rolls. For best results, bury the fence 4 to 6 inches into the ground to prevent rabbits from burrowing under it.
Get the Amagabeli rabbit repellent at Amazon.
Best For Pets Bonide Repels-All Animal Repellent Ready-to-Use Spray See ItProduct SpecsThose looking for an easy way to keep rabbits and other pests out of the garden without harming pets will want to consider this spray. It contains all-natural ingredients and can remain effective for up to 2 months. Since it comes ready to use in a convenient spray nozzle bottle, there's no extra prep work involved.
All the ingredients are biodegradable and will not harm ornamentals, edibles, or other desirable plants in the yard or garden. Although the odor is strong and may be off-putting to humans, it does the job to repel animals causing a nuisance.
Get the Bonide rabbit repellent at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Walmart.
Also Consider Shake Away Fox Urine Granules See ItProduct SpecsFoxes are one of rabbits' greatest predators, so it makes sense that the scent of their urine would send bunnies hopping quickly away. The formula of Shake Away relies on fox urine in time-released and rainproof granules. It comes in a shaker container that makes it easy to apply with no messy mixing.
Shake Away granules are also versatile. In addition to repulsing rabbits, they'll also repel other pests, including groundhogs and opossums. Shake Away granules are available in a 28.5-ounce container or 5-pound tub.
Get the Shake Away rabbit repellent at Amazon or Ace Hardware.
Or, DIY Your Own Rabbit RepellentAlthough there are several effective rabbit-repellent products on the market, creating a natural homemade rabbit repellent saves money and cuts down on product packaging waste. One simple homemade recipe suggested by Wilson Bros Gardens includes the following ingredients: an empty 1-gallon container (such as a milk jug), five garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon of crushed red hot pepper (such as cayenne), and 1 tablespoon dish soap (choose a natural, nontoxic brand). Fill the container with water. Crush the garlic cloves into the water, add the remaining ingredients, and shake well. Leave it outside in direct sunlight for 2 days. To use, shake well and pour immediately onto the base of plants or pour into a spray bottle and apply by spraying. Use once a week until the rabbits stop visiting.
What to Consider When Choosing a Rabbit RepellentThe best rabbit repellents range from sprays to motion-activated sprinklers to fencing. Learn about all of the options available for repelling rabbits as well as the important factors to consider when shopping for one.
Types of Rabbit RepellentRabbit repellent comes in a variety of forms that scare rabbits away using the smell of predators.
Taste- and odor-based deterrents for rabbits come in various forms, including sprays, granules, and concentrated liquid repellents. Sprays present the most convenient option since they are ready to use and don't require mixing. Simply point and spray to treat the area. Granules typically come in shaker bottles that make them also easy to apply. While both sprays and granules are water-resistant, granules typically hold up better under wet conditions. Concentrated repellents require mixing; however, they offer much greater coverage and typically are a better value than ready-to-use granules or spray products.
IngredientsCommon ingredients for liquid and granule pest repellents are garlic, putrescent egg solids, white pepper, and even the urine of pests' predators. Ingredients such as garlic and white pepper are foul smelling and foul tasting to rabbits, causing them to look elsewhere for a meal. Other ingredients play on a rabbit's primal fears. Solid egg ingredients emit the odor of a decaying animal, signaling to a rabbit that a predator may be close, triggering its instinct to flee.
Granules work similarly, using dry animal blood and urine that smells like predators to keep rabbits away. Be sure to avoid any product that includes such toxic ingredients as glyphosate, atrazine, simazine, and/or paraquat, which can harm the environment, pets, and people.
Environmental FriendlinessNatural rabbit-repellent products are designed to be humane and environmentally friendly. The substances used in spray, concentrated, and granule products consist of natural ingredients from plants, such as pepper and garlic, and animals, such as dried blood and urine. While these repellents should not be sprayed directly on edible foods, they are nontoxic, which makes them safe to treat the ground around these plants.
Nonchemical products such as sprinklers may cause distress for an animal, but they do not hurt rabbits, making them a humane as well as an environmentally friendly option for repelling these floppy-eared invaders.
FAQsIf you have questions about how to get rid of rabbits or when to use rabbit repellent, then read on for answers to these and other commonly asked questions about these products.
Q. Can I use rabbit repellents in the winter?Yes. In fact, rabbits remain active during the winter, which means they may still be chomping on trees and shrubs even after they have lost their leaves. Most rabbit repellents will work in cold or warm weather.
Q. Do ultrasonic devices work to repel rodents?Ultrasonic pest devices are tools that emit sound to repel, deter, or kill unwanted animals such as insects, rodents, birds and large mammals. Despite manufacturers advertising how their products effectively deter rabbits from garden, there is no scientific evidence to support these claims. For example, a 2015 study conducted by the University of Arizona concluded that commercially available ultrasonic pest devices were not an effective way to address pest problems.
Q. Do I have to reapply repellent after it rains?The best rabbit repellents are resistant to rain. However, that resistance is limited. Spray and granule repellents may begin to lose their efficacy after it rains, requiring reapplication after a heavy rainfall.
Q. What's the best time to apply rabbit repellent?Most rabbits do their feeding at night, so apply repellent toward the end of the day when rabbits are getting ready to emerge and feed. If that time does not work, rabbit repellents can also be applied in the early morning when rabbits are nesting or asleep.
Q. Are rabbit repellents harmful to animals?Since rabbit repellents have no synthetic additives, they won't harm rabbits or other animals, including pets. That said, avoid applying the repellent to edibles as it may negatively affect the taste.
Eastern Cottontail Rabbit
Common Name: Eastern Cottontail Rabbit Scientific Name: Sylvilagus floridanus Average Life Span In The Wild: Up to 3 years Size: 15.5 to 18.75 inches Size relative to a teacup: IUCN Red List Status:? Least concernLeast Concern Extinct
Current Population Trend: IncreasingThere are several species of cottontail rabbit, but the eastern cottontail is the most common. This ubiquitous animal can be found from Canada to South America and, in the United States, from the East Coast to the Great Plains. Cottontails range from reddish brown to gray, but all feature the distinctive "cotton ball" tail for which they are named.
Habitat and DietThese rabbits seek out habitat on the fringes of open spaces, such as fields, meadows, and farms, but can adapt to other habitats—including those of humans.
They browse at night on grasses and herbs and are fond of garden fare such as peas and, of course, lettuce. In winter, their diet becomes a bit coarse and consists of bark, twigs, and buds. During the day, cottontails often remain hidden in vegetation. If spotted, they flee from prey with a zigzag pattern, sometimes reaching speeds of up to 18 miles an hour.
ReproductionFemales give birth in shallow ground nests, to young so helpless that perhaps only 15 percent survive their first year. Fortunately, rabbits breed three or four times every year and produce three to eight young each time. Young rabbits mature quickly and are self-sufficient after only four or five weeks. They are sexually mature after only two or three months, so populations are able to grow with staggering speed.
Cottontails are plentiful and can be problematic for farmers; they are also a popular game animal.
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