Managing Rabbit Damage

How can you tell it is rabbits and not something else?

Rabbits clip stems and twigs at a clean angle, as if cut with scissors, while deer tear and leave ragged edges. Damage tends to be low to the ground, usually within reach of a small animal. Droppings are small round pellets.

In winter, rabbits gnaw bark on young trees and shrubs, often leaving a band of teeth marks near the snow line or ground. Girdling all the way around can kill a young tree, so look at trunks before spring.

Rabbits can also chew soft plastic irrigation lines and the bark of berry canes, so check beyond the vegetable beds if you see losses without an obvious cause.

• Clean angled cuts on stems point toward rabbits
• Low damage close to ground is typical
• Bark gnawing at snow level in winter
• Small round pellets nearby

Which barriers keep rabbits out?

Fencing is the most dependable fix for a garden. The key is making sure the bottom has no gaps and the openings are small enough that young rabbits cannot slip through. Some people bury the lower edge or bend it outward to stop digging.

Individual guards around young tree trunks protect against winter gnawing. Make sure they allow growth and are checked yearly so they do not constrict the tree. Extension fact sheets describe suitable designs.

Wire with large holes may stop adult rabbits but not young ones, so check openings carefully. Stakes should be firm enough that the fence cannot be pushed in at the bottom. Raised beds make protection easier, since a small frame with fencing around it is quick to build and simple to move. Temporary covers can also bridge the gap while seedlings are small.

Do repellents and plant choices help?

Repellents can work for a while, especially on ornamentals, but rain and new growth reduce their effect. Check the label to see whether the product is allowed on food crops, since regulations differ.

Rabbits tend to prefer tender young plants such as lettuce, beans and peas. Planting these within a protected bed, and using stronger tasting or less appealing plants outside it, may reduce losses.

Planting extra of what rabbits favor in an unprotected spot is sometimes suggested, but it can also encourage more visitors, so use judgment and watch results.

How does habitat affect rabbit numbers?

Rabbits like brush piles, thick weeds, tall grass and cover close to food. If your garden is next to a dense tangle, expect visitors. Reducing hiding places near the garden edge makes the area feel more exposed.

Be aware that brush and cover also help other wildlife. Consider keeping habitat in areas away from gardens and trimming only where it matters.

Dogs and cats may keep rabbits away from gardens, although outdoor cats can harm songbirds, so consider the trade offs.

What about trapping, shooting or other removal?

Rules differ by state and sometimes by town or county. Some places regulate trapping, discharge of firearms near homes, and the handling or relocation of wildlife. Moving wildlife may be illegal and can spread disease.

Check with your state wildlife agency before removal. If you hire help, choose a licensed professional and ask about local rules. Handle wild animals carefully and wash up afterward, and ask your doctor or county health office about disease concerns.

Rabbits can carry parasites and disease, so wear gloves when handling and keep children away from carcasses. Your county health department can answer specific questions.

How should you plan a season of prevention?

Put barriers up before planting, not after the first loss. Check fence bottoms in spring, protect young trees in fall, and clear the clutter beside the garden.

Keep notes on what worked. Small adjustments each year usually beat a large one time effort.

In late fall, check tree guards and remove excess cover. In spring, check fence bottoms again after frost heaves and rain have shifted soil.

What if damage keeps happening anyway?

Persistent damage often means a gap you have not yet found. Walk the whole barrier slowly and look for digging, bent wire or gaps beside posts and gates.

Sit quietly near the garden at dawn or dusk and watch where animals enter. A trail camera helps if you cannot be there. Fixing one weak spot often solves a problem that seemed to need much bigger measures.

If you still cannot solve it, ask your extension office. Staff see these problems every year and often know what has worked in nearby gardens.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Rural Farm Life Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.