Rabbit-Proofing Your Garden: Fencing Beats Repellents Every Time

Why Repellents Fail

Rabbits habituate to smells/tastes. Mothballs, pepper, urine—all temporary. Trapping catches bycatch (possums, skunks) but rarely rabbits.

The Gold Standard: Rabbit Fence

• 2–3 ft tall chicken wire (1-in. mesh) or hardware cloth (1/2-in. mesh).
• Bury bottom 6 in. outward (L-shape) or 12 in. straight down.
• Secure to stakes; no gaps at gates.

Tree/Shrub Protection

• Hardware cloth cylinders, 18–24 in. tall, buried 2 in.
• Commercial tree guards (spiral plastic).

Habitat Modification

• Remove brush piles, tall grass, woodpiles near garden.
• Eliminate birdseed spillover.

Resources

UNL Rabbit Damage Control: wildlifedamage.unl.edu → Wildlife Publications → Rabbits.