Rabbit Population Control

Controlling Rabbit Populations. Rabbit problems typically begin in an acquitted way. All start out with the appearance of one rabbit at your lawn or garden. After a day or two, you will eventually find more and more rabbits out there destructing your yard. The problem becomes much serious when they start digging extensive tunnel networks underneath buildings and homes which will serve as their haven. They will then start multiplying in an uncontrollable number, leaving massive rabbit population to wreak havoc on your backyard and the vegetables and fruits in the garden.

Rabbit damage is often the result of their cravings for the plants in our backyard. They eat vegetable and flowers in summer and spring and bark of ornamental trees and fruits as well as shrubs in winter and fall. And because their population may gradually increase in a short span of time, the damage may also become severe. Worse, this damage may cause great loss for homeowners.

Ways to control rabbit populations.
To effectively deter rabbits off your lawn or garden, you need to determine first the months that they are around. The best time to control their population is between November-March. Mortality level is usually reduced during winter even without the involvement of man.

For homeowners living in rural areas, animal control vs. animal can be effective. Rabbits usually serve as prey animals for dogs and cats. Dogs, however, may not be of great help in controlling rabbits as for they usually lose interest on them. Cats, on the other hand, will actively stalk and feed on bunny population. Oftentimes, cats kill young rabbit right after they were born. Household pets, however, cannot entirely control rabbit population but can effectively reduce their number as well as the damage.

1. Here are other methods you can use to control bunny population:
   Gassing. This method can be used when there are visible burrows. However, fumigants are only available in form of formulations which produce phosphine gas when it comes in contact with moisture. These comes either in pellet or tablet form. Using gassing method should only be done with the help of professionals.
2. Baited-cage trapping. This method involves live capturing of rabbits through using wire-mesh cages drawn with carrot. This can relatively reduce the number of rabbits by up to 65%. However, ensure that the traps used are designed to catch rabbits humanely.
3. Fencing. When properly installed and maintained, electric and wire netting fences can relatively reduce rabbit population on protected areas by at least 85%.
4. Shooting. Shooting rabbits is legally permitted in some states particularly in areas where there are massive number of rabbits.
5. Repellents. It can either be homemade or store-brought. Nevertheless, this method doesn’t provide long-term protection against rabbit attacks.
6. Ferreting- This is most effective when used outside of breeding season. This method is usually time consuming and can’t guarantee efficient result especially when used in isolation.

There are lots of ways to deter rabbit population. However, it will be advisable to opt for a more humanized method.