I saw the thread about deer and thought I'd ask about rabbits. They have been decimating some climbing beans I planted in the back yard. I read somewhere that chili powder helps, but was looking for other suggestions. Thanks!
I'd welcome what works, too. We'd had your experience with green beans here in north Arlington and at a home property in Silver Spring.
Our beloved and aging Australian cattle dog isn't a deterrent. She says that her genetic propensities are for herding, which she still does of us, and does not encompass such things as keeping wild animals out of the yard/garden. Indeed, she is outright afraid of foxes after having heard their “this is how our prey sounds when we are killing it” sounds at night.
Rabbit garden food preferences/dislikes are interesting. Green beans, yea. An array of garden greens, e.g., lettuce, parsley, Swiss chard, etc. and tomatoes, spices and flowers, nay.
And deer: they devour our flowers but leave the entire garden crop alone. Interesting.
I think the best solution is to physically cover your seedlings. This is what I did with my okra seedlings (they like those too!). I put metal baskets over them until they attained enough size that they are not as delicious to the rabbits. You could make hoops (out of pvc pipe or some bendable wire) and cover them with row cover (it lets light through), or buy some chicken wire and bend it, etc.
I planted enough beans that they could not wipe me out, they just nibbled a few leaves while they were young. Once the plants get a little more mature they are less tender and appealing and the nibbling stops. They also seem to like beet greens, and occasionally radish and carrot tops. They seem to prefer clover and plantain in my lawn most of all.
I have tried the red pepper in the past, but I don't recall if it made any difference. It's worth a shot (get it in bulk or buy cheapo low quality spice from cvs or somewhere like that).
For ornamental plants, they looooove asters and cone flower (echinacea). Hope that helps, good luck!
Red pepper is used as a deterant for many animals but it can also be very harmful. Rabbits clean them selves with their front feet and if there is red pepper on their feet it could get into their eyes and be extremely painful. Cats that have gotten red pepper on their face have literally scratched their eyes out. I would reccomend ammonia. Leave ammonia soaked rags around your garden/yard. Rabbits are prey animals and the ammonia will smell like a bigger, more dangerous animal and hopefully they will stay away. Or toss your sweaty gym clothes out around your garden, will definitely deter the bunnies!
I side with prius driving liberals on any animal rights issues. It's just a plant you don't need to live, the rabbit needs it to live. Put up chickenwire, but nothing that's harmful.
novasteve said:
I side with prius driving liberals on any animal rights issues.
You should maybe stop bashing them so much then, ya think?
Then again, if you can side with them on animal rights, maybe some of them are siding with the animal haters too….
Does this perhaps require the pellet rifle solution? After all, we have eliminated all or most of the rabbits' natural predators (wolves, foxes, etc.) and we won't let them repopulate. Ever been in a neighborhood where a fox is seen? Pandemonium. Animal Control running all over the place. The only check on rabbit populations at the moment is food supply, and that's a most cruel solution. Better a clean kill. There were four rabbits in my neighbor's yard last evening, and that's getting to be too many.
i'll chase the bunnies away for a small fee. 
ksu499 said:
After all, we have eliminated all or most of the rabbits' natural predators (wolves, foxes, etc.) and we won't let them repopulate. Ever been in a neighborhood where a fox is seen? Pandemonium. Animal Control running all over the place.
I live in a neighborhood with plenty of foxes. No pandemonium whatsoever. No animal control. AWLA and the county are just fine with the fox population.
ksu499 said:
Ever been in a neighborhood where a fox is seen? Pandemonium. Animal Control running all over the place.
Animal Control doesn't respond to 'fox sitings'
ksu499 said:
Does this perhaps require the pellet rifle solution? After all, we have eliminated all or most of the rabbits' natural predators (wolves, foxes, etc.) and we won't let them repopulate. Ever been in a neighborhood where a fox is seen? Pandemonium. Animal Control running all over the place. The only check on rabbit populations at the moment is food supply, and that's a most cruel solution. Better a clean kill. There were four rabbits in my neighbor's yard last evening, and that's getting to be too many.
Well I laughed at this. I once saw a whole flock of people go totally nuts over a raccoon scurrying from one hole to another in the middle of the day. It went something like: “OMG A RACCOON THEY DON'T COME OUT IN SUNLIGHT OMMMGGGG IT'S RABID SHOOT IT SHOOT IT!”. Um, hello..they're not completely nocturnal, and maybe that's why he was going from one dark place to another DARK place. Running, fast, away from you, does not signal rabies.
Maybe the deer will eat the rabbits and then the deer population will be controlled by humans..problem solved!
novasteve said:
I side with prius driving liberals on any animal rights issues. It’s just a plant you don’t need to live, the rabbit needs it to live. Put up chickenwire, but nothing that’s harmful.
I'm pretty sure the rabbit will find something else to eat to survive–veeta's okra, for instance. Maybe, I could even out the equation by eating the rabbit?
arlingtony said:
novasteve said:
I side with prius driving liberals on any animal rights issues. It's just a plant you don't need to live, the rabbit needs it to live. Put up chickenwire, but nothing that's harmful.
I’m pretty sure the rabbit will find something else to eat to survive–veeta’s okra, for instance. Maybe, I could even out the equation by eating the rabbit?
Do i need the rabbit to survive like it needs food to survive? Your precious wittle garden isn't that important.
Don't forget who moved in here, and who is native.
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