Originally published at: How to get rid of rabbits? - Thanos Home
A rabbit is a cute and fluffy animal, but that doesn’t stop them from being a real garden hazard.
When they enter your home, they will eat up your fruits and do considerable damage to your plants.
If you’re having a rabbit problem and you need some advice on how to handle rabbits, then you’ve come to the right place!
In this article, I’ll be giving you tips on how to get rid of rabbits.
Continue reading!
What are Rabbits?
Rabbits are mainly vegetarians and are known to eat young trees during the spring season. While in the summer, these animals will eat any broadleaf weed they can find, including shoots, roots, berries, and other fruits.
During the cold winter months, rabbits go on a diet that includes shrubs, blackberries, twigs, and raspberries.
Rabbits aren’t the bravest of animals and would instead not be found in the open, which is why they would instead pass through overgrown grass or any bushy area they can find to get to their destinations.
Animals like these can also enter your home via several means, including breaches in walls.
What Is A Natural Rabbit Repellent?
A natural rabbit repellent is a natural substance that can be used to drive them away.
They are mainly natural foods that contain elements rabbits can’t stand. They are also non-toxic to humans or domestic pets and are safe to use on plants and around your home.
This is not the same as chemical repellents, which is toxic and can harm or kill garden plants, humans, and pets.
There are several natural repellents you can use to get rid of rabbits. The good news is, you can prepare them right in the comfort of your home.
Also, these natural repellents are safe to use and will not harm your plants.
Below is a list of natural repellents you can use to get rid of rabbits.
1.Thanos Motion Activated Solar Animal Repellent
Unlike the other solar-powered animal repeller on the market that only has one side to repel the animals, Thanos® Motion Activated Ultrasonic Animal Repeller has THREE independent ‘faces’ that work together in unison.
Each individual face emits ultrasonic repeller waves, flashing LEDs, and an alarm.
All THREE faces working together provide true 360-degree coverage.
2. Chili & Garlic
A chili and garlic combination has been proven to repel so many types of pests, and rabbits aren’t left out.
All you need to do is get some chili and a few cloves of garlic (or buy garlic powder). The next step is to mix into a bowl along with some water.
Stir thoroughly so that the ingredients are well blended and leave it to sit for about two days. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and visit your garden.
Spray across your garden to keep them away.
You may add some mild liquid dish-washing soap to the solution to spice it up. After the water has evaporated, the chili and garlic will still be present, helping repel rabbits for a long time.
If it rains, the solution will be washed into the ground, and you may have to spray again. Repeat the process weekly to keep rabbits away.
3. Cayenne Pepper And Tabasco Sauce
This is another combination you can try. They deter rabbits and other common pests.
Just like the solution above, you should mix cayenne pepper powder and Tabasco sauce with some water using a bowl. Also, stir thoroughly for the best results on the rabbits.
You may also add some mild liquid soap if you wish for the best results.
Pour the solution into a spray bottle and do rounds on your plants.
This combination will help you get rid of rabbits. It is also an effective pest control combination for other menaces.
4. Garlic And Eggs
Rabbits are irritated by the smell of eggs, and thanks to their sharp sense of smell, they will quickly pick up the scent. You can deter them by using this.
You can spice up the mixture with some garlic to rid your garden of rabbits.
Break a few eggs into a bowl and mix it with some garlic powder. Whisk it up until all the elements are well blended, then pour into small bowls.
Set the bowls in strategic areas of your garden where the rabbits are most likely to visit. The smell will keep rabbits away.
You should empty the bowls after about a week and replace them with a fresh mixture.
5. Chili Powder
Chili Powder can be used on its own to get rid of rabbits. Once again, they have a keen sense of smell, and the chili will give their noses a good sting if they come too close to it.
All you need to do is get the required amount of chili powder and spread it all across your garden plants. You can also sprinkle some into your mulch to prevent rabbits from walking through them.
6.Vinegar
This can also be used to deter rabbits, so you can use this to repel them.
Pest control experts advise that you don’t apply the vinegar directly to the plants because they can harm some of them.
Instead, you can soak some corn cobs in vinegar and scatter them across your garden floor.
This will help you rid your garden of rabbits.
7. Linseed Oil And Detergent
The linseed oil can also be used as a natural repellent for rabbits. You can spike up its effects using detergent.
To prepare a linseed oil solution, all you have to do is add some of the oil into a bowl and mix with some detergent. Add some water to it and stir.
The amount of water you add should not be as much as the oil for the best results.
You can either sprinkle the solution on your plants or pour it into some bowls before setting them across your garden.
8. Onions
Onion has a very pronounced smell, which is offensive to rabbits.
You can peel off some onions and scatter them across your garden. A more permanent solution would be planting onions around the other trees that the rabbits love to feast on.
This is a more effective means of getting rid of rabbits because the onions only need to be planted once, unlike the other natural repelling methods that require constant reapplication.
9. Coffee Grounds
The smell of coffee is one that is pleasant to people. However, the scent is very offensive to many garden pests, including slugs, ants, and rabbits!
The good thing about this natural rabbit repellent is that it is common, and you may already have it at home.
All you need to do is pour some in a bowl, walk around your garden, and sprinkle across the floor.
Another idea would be to pour some into several bowls and set them in different parts of your yard to keep the rabbits from coming close to your crops.
What Scent Do Rabbits Hate?
Just like dogs, rabbits use their noses very effectively.
They can perceive food from significant distances, and that is how they track it down.
Unfortunately for them, their sense of smell, which is one of their main strengths, can also be a weakness. There are certain scents that rabbits cannot stand.
Here are some scents that rabbits hate –
• Chili
• Garlic
• Eggs
• Dry Sulphur
• Onions
• Linseed oil
• Vinegar
• Coffee Grounds
If you’re having a rabbit problem on your property, you can use any of these scents or a combination to get rid of them. Just apply them on the ground or the plants.
You might be interested in the following article
How Do You Get Rid Of Rabbits Without Killing Them?
You may have a hard time coming up with a plan on how to get rid of rabbits without killing them.
There are several harmless means by which you can remove these animals, and they will be listed out below.
1. Chicken Wire
Installing a chicken wire fence around your vegetable garden is a great way to eliminate rabbits without killing them.
A chicken wire fence is made of durable metal, and the rabbits cannot chew through it. They will fail in their attempts, and once they realize they can’t get through, the rabbit population will be reduced.
This method is safe and recommended.
2. Live Trap
Another way to get rid of rabbits is by using a live trap.
Ensure the trap does not kill or harm the rabbit; rather, it should only restrain it.
You can build a live trap yourself using everyday materials such as wood, nails, and a wire mesh.
If you cannot construct the trap yourself, you can buy one from a pest control store.
Whichever you choose, you will need to place some bait in the trap to attract the rabbits. Suggestions for bait include fresh cucumber, raspberries, and carrots.
Set the trap in an area the rabbit can easily reach. When they see the food, they will enter, and the spring door will be shut and trap the rabbit.
There are different types of live traps, including spring-board traps and less complicated traps that close when a lever or stick is moved.
If you find a rabbit in the trap, call animal control to come and take it away.
Traps are an effective form of rabbit control that works without harming them.
3. Life-Sized Dummies
Rabbits are a good meal for predators such as hawks, falcons, and owls. However, your aim here is to get rid of them without killing them.
For this reason, a life-sized dummy would be a good idea.
You can buy an inflatable hawk or any other prey bird and set it in your garden. You can have more than one prey dummy if your yard is large.
Make sure you buy the most terrifying dummies you can find. They should have wide bulgy eyes. Their wings should be spread out, while their mouths should be kept open.
Tie the dummies to trees or other areas in your yard using a string and let the wind and the rabbit’s fear of being eaten do the rest.
The natural breeze will ensure the dummies keep moving, making them look real to the rabbits. Even if they don’t move, they will still look scary.
Place as much as you need around your property for more effectiveness.
4. Natural Repellents
These are naturally occurring elements found in foods and can be used to chase away rabbits due to their offensive scent.
Getting rid of rabbits using this method will not kill them; instead, they will be irritated and leave.
Natural repellents include onions, linseed oil, garlic, cayenne pepper, and chili, and Thanos ultrasonic animal repellent.
You can make simple solutions with a mixture of one or two of these natural repellents and set them in your garden as well as other areas in your yard.
If your property is laced with these substances, the pests will stay away.
Make sure you don’t use toxic repellents, as this can harm your trees.
5. Cut Tall Grass
Rabbits are smart animals, and they understand the importance of concealing themselves from humans and other predators. This is why having tall grass in your yard is ill-advised.
If your yard is filled with overgrown bushes, rabbits may use that as a means of cover, and you won’t see them coming until the damage is done.
For this reason, you should make sure you keep the grass in your yard trimmed to about 1 inch above the topsoil level. If the grass is several inches higher, it could be a problem.
Make your garden area and your yard free of hiding spaces to reduce the hiding spaces for the rabbit, and since they don’t like being out in the open, they will not feel comfortable in your yard anymore.
6. Use A Wooden Fence
You can use a wooden fence to get rid of rabbits without harming them. Luckily, you can build the fence yourself!
All you will need for fencing are pieces of wood, a box of nails, a hammer, a tape measure, and of course, your time.
Your job would be much simpler if your garden area is small, as you will need less wood and effort in fencing.
The wooden posts should be placed about an inch away from themselves throughout the perimeter of the fencing. You can space them a few inches farther apart if you’re concerned about airflow.
If the spaces between posts are too many inches apart, the rabbit will squeeze through the wide-area, enter your garden, and damage your trees.
Also, the fence should be about 4 feet high, so they can’t hop over.
If you’re not the DIY type, you can call on a professional contractor to build it for you. However, this will cost you a lot more money in terms of contractor fees.
Do Coffee Grounds Repel Rabbits?
While trying to figure out how to get rid of rabbits, someone may have suggested coffee grounds to you.
Coffee grounds can be used to repel a wide variety of garden pests, including rabbit inclusive.
While the smell of coffee is pleasant to humans, it isn’t delightful to a rabbit.
You can sprinkle some on the ground closest to the plants the rabbits are most likely to damage. You can also add some coffee grounds to bowls and place them around your garden area. Sprinkling some coffee grounds around your property is also a good idea.
The smell will keep them away.
Coffee grounds are available in pretty much every grocery store.
Conclusion
A rabbit can cause all sorts of plant damage in your garden. Their eating habits are far from polite, and they will munch on as much as their bellies can carry.
This will leave you with less desirable fruits and a smaller harvest. It will worsen if more than one rabbit is visiting your garden, as this will mean more harm to your crops.
Keep your home free of hiding spaces for these creatures. Bushy shrubs will attract them.
The tips provided in this article can be used to repel rabbits and deny them access to your garden plants.
I trust this article on how to get rid of rabbits has been helpful.