The past two nights our yard has been savagely attacked by rabbits. We've had lots of snow this year and I believe the rabbits are now at a point of starvation. I never seen this kind of damage before, much less in only two nights!, and I'm completely at a loss on what to do. And by the way, those critters are HUGE! I saw them out the window.




If you enlarge the pictures you can see all the tracks in the snow, how they've chewed the bark off bushes, and pretty much ate any branches that are under 1/4" in diameter. You can see where they ate the semps off my wreaths and even ripped out the sphagnum moss. Yes, all those tracks in the snow are from 2 nights of rabbit visits!! I'M WILD!!!!! They're literally digging my semps out of the snow and eating them.

I'm out of Plantskydd, but put in a rush order today. We have several live traps set out, but why would they go in them when they have so many other things to eat?? I can't stay up all night chasing them away. Luckily we're supposed to have another snow storm tonight, so hopefully that will keep them away for one night.

Any suggestions??? I'm desperate!!

Could you put out some food for them to deter them from your plants until you get some more Plantskydd?

Good idea Jennifer - Thanks! I've only put food in the live traps, but if it keeps them away from my plants I'd be happy to put a big pile in the yard for them.

Well, its worth a try. Rabbits drive me crazy sometimes. And I want them gone. But when one of my dogs has a baby bit screaming in its mouth its pretty horrific.

Are you situated where you could shoot them safely and legally? I've never had a problem with rabbits eating a semp here, but there are cats around that do stalk the rabbits. Could you adopt a cat or two?

jvdubb said:Well, its worth a try. Rabbits drive me crazy sometimes. And I want them gone. But when one of my dogs has a baby bit screaming in its mouth its pretty horrific.

it is horrific, but oh the damage they can do!

They're doing the same thing here The thread "Rabbit damage" in Roses forum .

Chris, I feel for ya! Do you have anything at all that you can wrap your plants with until your order arrives? Tulle, sheets, burlap...anything? You could hold the edges together with clothes pins perhaps? It would probably work long enough.

(((hugs))) so sorry to see the damage to all your hard work . I hope that leaving food out helps xxx

Of course my dogs don't think its horrific

Yeah, screaming rabbits do sound awful. So do screaming sempervivum so the rabbits lose at my house.

Twit, we have some feral cats in the neighborhood, but I'll tell ya, these rabbits are bigger than the cats! They've never eaten my semps before either. Yes, I can shoot them legally and safely, but I recently had shoulder surgery and just had knee surgery 1-1/2 weeks ago, so it's not easy to get through the snow to shoot em. My DH is going to buy me a smaller gun this weekend that won't hurt my shoulder. But that's still a long way off.

Oh Chelle, I see you're going through the same thing. Isn't it frustrating? Again, can't do anything until the weekend because my DH drives truck long hours and is only home in the dark. And my knee prohibits me from doing it. Maybe I can recruit somebody else to help tomorrow. Good idea - thanks!

Thanks Kate.

Sorry to hear!!! I've suffered some great semp loss this year too!! I have both rabbits and deer. I had planted a several semps on my retaining walls around my garage to see how they'd do as my plan was to plant semp beds there. The walls are pretty high and staggered. I've never seen deer come up there. Several of my pots were eaten up too!!! I feel your devastation!! I think I may have to resort to pots that I can keep on my deck where I know they can't be reached by rabbits/deer. This just means my semp collection will have to be small..... Drats!!!

I hope you find a solution!!! You always have such beautiful pics to share and such an awesome collection!!!

Chris, one other thought...do you have any blood meal handy? It can attract other critters, but if that's not a concern it might keep the rabbits away just long enough. It's not a long-term solution, but it might get you through to the weekend.

BEEP Rabbits!!! I'm so sorry to hear this, please take care and don't screw up your surgeries by falling on the ice. Okay this my sound gross but, they don't like you as you are a predator, pee in a container and then pour around your yard. I have never tried before but read this along time ago in a gardening magazine. Sorry if I grossed anyone out.

Audrie, how great to see you again! Sorry to hear you're having problems too. What is it with the critters this year? Hope you find a solution too.

Chelle, I actually did find some blood meal yesterday and sprinkled it around. I really can't tell if it did any good or not. Plantskydd is blood-based so I thought I'd try anyway.

Well Julia, there's so much rabbit pee around nobody would know that I added to it!

Good luck.

Hello Chris! Thank you! I have no clue what's going on. We've had a rather dry winter so far. I think food is scarce. They didn't bug my containers last winter that I had leaned up against the garage wall. This year they did! My planters with S. Black we're devastated! Not sure if they will recover. I took some babies and put them in a planter I have on my deck. Hoping I can save something. The semps I'm most upset about are the ones I got from you and Lynn. I left them in their planted containers and placed them on an elevated stand I made out of stone next to my garage wall. I had them covered with bird netting and one morning many were eaten and thrown everywhere! Same day my S. Blacks met their demise. Horrible Day!!

The only ones that have done well are in wood whiskey barrels covered with wire. I have two filed and two left to be filled. My plan was to plant my new ones this spring. We shall see. I'm left with planting in containers I can protect.

on your pee comment!

springcolor said: BEEP Rabbits!!! I'm so sorry to hear this, please take care and don't screw up your surgeries by falling on the ice. Okay this my sound gross but, they don't like you as you are a predator, pee in a container and then pour around your yard. I have never tried before but read this along time ago in a gardening magazine. Sorry if I grossed anyone out.

Spring, we forgive you...but a friend in need...of pee...
Chris, really sorry to hear of your situation. I hope you get them...
I'm a city girl born and raised in SFrancisco and the first time I saw a rabbit stand on its hind legs and sample my annuals, I was flabbergast! I don't know why I thought they stay close to the ground all the time...Duh!

Wow Audrie, they really did a number of your semps.

Wish they did stay close to the ground Bev!

The black nylon bird netting over stakes has worked very well for me, keeping rabbits and squirrels out of the beds.

I am so sorry to hear about the destruction that is going on this winter. I feel terrible for all of you.

Terriers, the hunting type, Jack Russel, Rat Terrier, Fox Terrier. I would just put ear plugs in so I don't hear the rabbits screaming.

Sorry Chris and Audrie Chris, I hope under all that snow your semps are fine! Keep us updated, let us know if the yellow snow thing works!