Rabbits!!!

[quietobserver]

I've recently relocated so I have some new challenges. Returned last night from work trip to significant damage to several trees. I'm almost certain its rabbits because I've seen them at night. Backyard is completely privacy fenced but they're slipping under it appears. They consume all the damage, almost looks like someone breaks in and takes cuttings. Their favorite appears to be succulent growth on my quinces. I've done quite a bit of reading around the forum and my conclusion is it seems like their benches aren't high enough. They're too low now because it makes the watering automatically easier when I'm away, which is a lot. Any suggestions on bench height would be much appreciated!!!! Thanks for your time.

 

[sikadelic]

So you're buying a pellet gun and having rabbit stew?

Think it could be squirrels? If you have them on a bench I wouldnt suspect rabbits would be the culprits. Of course, there are those pesky Norwegian Spider Rabbits out there.

 

[Eric Schrader]

I had significant rabbit problems in Thousand Oaks, CA before I got my benches built. My benches were 30" high and I made sure that there was nothing around them to act as a ladder. But the rabbits don't seem to instinctually climb things (at least those rabbits.)

They would even eat my pine needles.

 

[coh]

So you're buying a pellet gun and having rabbit stew?

Think it could be squirrels? If you have them on a bench I wouldnt suspect rabbits would be the culprits. Of course, there are those pesky Norwegian Spider Rabbits out there.

Rabbit damage is very distinctive (very sharp, angled cuts on branches). Rabbits will stand up on their hind legs and can reach higher than you might think (don't ask how I know), but I don't think they can climb up on tables. Squirrels...not sure what their damage looks like, but they can (and will) get just about anywhere.

I've had a lot of rabbit damage to quinces in the ground.

 

[fviljoen963]

Get a terrier. Preferrably a Jack russel.
feeder and a self filling water trough solves the being away problem
seriously, problem solved

 

[quietobserver]

Rabbit damage is very distinctive (very sharp angled cuts on branches). Rabbits will stand up on their hind legs and can reach higher than you might think (don't ask how I know), but I don't think they can climb up on tables. Squirrels...not sure what their damage looks like, but they can (and will) get just about anywhere.

I've had a lot of rabbit damage to quinces in the ground.

Thanks. Damage description is spot on for rabbits. Layed waste to just about all of this year's growth I was planning on taking for cuttings. I don't have any landscape trees in back and have startled rabbits before, sooo.

 

[quietobserver]

I had significant rabbit problems in Thousand Oaks, CA before I got my benches built. My benches were 30" high and I made sure that there was nothing around them to act as a ladder. But the rabbits don't seem to instinctually climb things (at least those rabbits.)

They would even eat my pine needles.

Thanks. Coh's description of rabbit damage sealed it for me. I appreciate the bench height and suggestions.

 

[lordy]

"Deja Vu all over again."
http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthread.php?14301-What-the&highlight=damage

You've seen this but perhaps didnt register because it hadnt happened up close and personal.

Side note: I was mowing my quite tall grass yesterday at about 7:30 PM, and got near the back corner of my lot and there was a small rabbit going nuts. Running in very tight circles, and even fell over and laid on his back for a few seconds. I slowed the mower and walked to him to see what was going on. He ran away a bit and stopped. We did that 3 or 4 times and I finally got him out of harm's way, and I restarted mowing. Everytime I came back to near where he was, he would start spinning in circles again. Finally I finished mowing and he was still acting strange. I think the vibrations of the mower (52" with a 20hp motor) was sending him into a panic. I think his mother is the culprit that ate my trees last winter. I saw her last night too. Wascally wabbits...

 

[Dirty Nails]

You can make a collar or barrier with chicken wire. Critters don't like the way it feels on their feet. I used it to stop squirrels from digging in a couple junipers. Another time I had a neighbors dog digging under the fence. I suggested to him to put a strip of chicken wire where the dog was digging. He stopped.

 

[quietobserver]

"Deja Vu all over again."
http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthread.php?14301-What-the&highlight=damage

You've seen this but perhaps didnt register because it hadnt happened up close and personal.

Side note: I was mowing my quite tall grass yesterday at about 7:30 PM, and got near the back corner of my lot and there was a small rabbit going nuts. Running in very tight circles, and even fell over and laid on his back for a few seconds. I slowed the mower and walked to him to see what was going on. He ran away a bit and stopped. We did that 3 or 4 times and I finally got him out of harm's way, and I restarted mowing. Everytime I came back to near where he was, he would start spinning in circles again. Finally I finished mowing and he was still acting strange. I think the vibrations of the mower (52" with a 20hp motor) was sending him into a panic. I think his mother is the culprit that ate my trees last winter. I saw her last night too. Wascally wabbits...

Thanks. Somehow I missed that thread. I think I picked the threads to read by title and missed it.

 

[jkd2572]

Just find where they are getting under the fence and fix it.

 

[Vance Wood]

Thanks. Damage description is spot on for rabbits. Layed waste to just about all of this year's growth I was planning on taking for cuttings. I don't have any landscape trees in back and have startled rabbits before, sooo.

Don't rule out the possibility that they have made a home right on your own property. They're pretty slick critters and can do a lot of damage quickly, especially if there are more than one.

 

[quietobserver]

Don't rule out the possibility that they have made a home right on your own property. They're pretty slick critters and can do a lot of damage quickly, especially if there are more than one.

Hey thanks. I was thinking of them as 'just passin thru' but now that you mention it and I've done a bit of follow up reading and poking around, they may have moved in shortly after the all-u-can eat buffet did. Maybe I should leave em a fortune cookie.

 

[edprocoat]

The hopping rats van be devastating to a tasty tree, some say they make a good stew but I prefer to get beef for my stew. Shoot them in the back leg, that will slow them down enough for the predators to easily do some chew damage to them...

ed

 

[Vance Wood]

Hey thanks. I was thinking of them as 'just passin thru' but now that you mention it and I've done a bit of follow up reading and poking around, they may have moved in shortly after the all-u-can eat buffet did. Maybe I should leave em a fortune cookie.

If you live in an urban environment what you do about these cute little creatures of mass destruction can be an issue. If you are in the country a .22 would work well if you do not mind getting up really early in the morning and sneaking around like a sniper. You could also use a high powered BB gun. The ones that use a C02 cartridge can put a BB through a couple of really heavy metal nursery containers, more than enough to take down a rabbit if you hit it in the right spot. A .22 caliber pellet gun would probably be the best option. You want to stay away from poisons because of the obvious. Another option is a good cat.

 

[timetravel_0]

The hopping rats van be devastating to a tasty tree, some say they make a good stew but I prefer to get beef for my stew. Shoot them in the back leg, that will slow them down enough for the predators to easily do some chew damage to them...

ed

Shooting to wound game animals with no attempt at recovery is usually regarded as a crime in the vast majority of states. If you have the ability to wound, you have the ability to kill. I don't care if you don't eat what you shoot, but don't shoot to wound.

 

[coh]

Shooting to wound game animals with no attempt at recovery is usually regarded as a crime in the vast majority of states. If you have the ability to wound, you have the ability to kill. I don't care if you don't eat what you shoot, but don't shoot to wound.

Wow, that (the post you quoted) is one of the worst pieces of "advice" I've ever seen on this forum. Simply disgusting.

Anyway, there always seems to be another "critter". Initially I had deer damage in my growing area so I put up an 8' high plastic mesh deer fence. That kept the deer out, but not the rabbits...who simply chewed through the plastic mesh. So I added a low (1-2') metal "chicken wire" fence and a couple of strips of electric fence. That seems to have deterred the rabbits, but this year we've had an explosion of voles and they've done severe damage to some young trees I planted in the ground. I managed to trap a few of them and the damage has stopped for now. Also had some kind of borer get in and kill most of the trunks of a couple of pre-bonsai. It's always something!

Chris