Make sure that when you get fencing, you get a quality, galvanized mesh fence and install it at least 2 feet to keep rabbits out. Required fields are marked *. Make sure that you dont spray vinegar directly on your plants, as it can cause them to wilt. Unfortunately, these plants will not deter them completely. You get to enjoy the look and aroma of the fresh lavender, and it will keep those pesky fur balls out! Is it bothering you or your rabbit? Wolf urine is also the hardest to find, so most people opt for using lynx or bobcat urine instead. Allow it to dry a little and tear pieces off, placing them in various areas around the desired area. your garden or each plant is very reliable. Use vinegar instead. When reading our posts please remember that every rabbit is different and as such we cannot comment on personal experiences. So, when you have finished with your coffee grounds, dont throw them on the compost heap; try sprinkling them around your garden for protection instead. If you walked into a restaurant looking for a buffet meal, but the entire establishment smelled strongly of rotting eggs, you most likely wouldnt want to eat there, correct? Using these scents to your advantage can help to deter wild rabbits or to keep your pet out of particular parts of your house or garden. Take care in using moist grounds to avoid creating an additional bug problem for your plants. Reapply this every evening, right before rabbits eat, usually at dusk. If your yard is filled with low-to-the-ground shrubs, sprawling moss or clover, or other low-hanging, creeping plants, this makes it prime rabbit territory. Its pretty common to add mint to this concoction to make it even less appealing for rabbits. Garlic powder can be sprinkled, or fresh cloves can be crushed and scattered around areas where rabbits are being a pest. In this article, we will look at smells rabbits like, are repelled by, and which ones cause them stress, but lets first address the question, What smells do rabbits hate?: First of all, rabbits have a sensitive sense of smell where certain aromas that we find tolerable or appealing causes them to be repelled, repulsed or even stressed. So if you live in the Southeast or Southwest, coyote urine may be an excellent go-to for scaring rabbits away. Rabbits dont like the smell of peppermint, but they will eat the plant, especially if the peppermint isnt very strong. Some the these hates smells include: Many property owners who wish to keep rabbits away without hurting them, employ these odors that rabbits consider foul or alarming and they work well to keep them out. Ahh yes. Top 7 Smells Cats Hate: 1. While her keen nose keeps your pet safe, its also extremely sensitive. Use vinegar instead. Unfortunately, these plants will not deter them completely. Citrus is effective against other pests like transient cats, bugs, and slugs but not rabbits, deer, or squirrels. So if your dog pees anywhere in your yard, rabbits will smell it! Can Rabbits Eat Rosemary? Benefits, Safety, Issues & Extra Preparation Read More 8 Signs Of A Skunk Den (And How to Find Them)Continue, Protect your assets! If you soak a cotton ball with vinegar and place it in areas that you do not wish your rabbit to explore, they will stay away. in addition to smell, rabbits run at the onset of loud sounds. USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. We havent tried it ourselves but we have heard of numerous reports of rabbit owners using it to stop rabbits chewing where its not wanted such as table or chair legs. You should definitely use scents to deter rabbits, but there are other things that you can do to your property that will help deter rabbits and other pesky critters in the long run. You can use a simple pre-made garlic spray or easily make your own by mixing some with a few raw eggs and pouring the mixture around your plants and garden. The nasal membrane is very sensitive to perfumes, chemicals and dust, and these agents can cause upper respiratory problems for the rabbit. Infinitely more convenient are sulfur powders, an example of which can be found here (link to Amazon.com). (Rabbits are lagomorphs, not rodents.). It might be in the middle of your morning coffee, or it might be in the middle of the night, but you have had this, Read More 12 Ways To Get Crows To Shut Up And Stop CawingContinue, Raccoons are amazing and fascinating creatures, but that does not mean that most people want them in their yard, garden, or home. I love all animals and love writing about them. The only question people usually ask is: Do rabbits smell? Rabbits can and do recognize their owners. Better yet, once the gardening season is over, you can harvest the chives and use them in your cooking, so once again, its a win-win for you. Not all rabbits do it . They may take a bite, but they will experience the heat and wont like it. What smells do rabbits hate? - Thank Chickens If they are a free-roaming they will just simply run away from it. {When Attacked or Scared}, Does Rabbit Pee Stain Clothes? Consider adding plants with a strong scenta rabbits sense of smell is much stronger than a humans. Rosemary is an aromatic herbal plant that has needle-like leaves. Find your favorite variety of bee balm and plant it in container gardens as well as a background color in your beds that edge the yard. You could get creative and resourceful with this. However, there are a few occasions where a little extra work might be necessary. Do Rabbits Smell? (Simple Tips to Keep Them Odorless) Dr. Elly Cameron is a veterinarian who has always loved animals. While it may depend on what kind of scent you are using, typically with the smell them away method, you are simply spraying or otherwise applying the scent to the area around your garden or flowerbeds. ry evening, right before rabbits eat, usually at dusk. Citronella is the name for both an essential oil, and a group of trees/shrubs (mostly growing in tropical climates).Citronella oil - Rabbits shouldn't eat or . Keeping your rabbit inside Rabbits can live quite happily indoors and they should be provided with secure accommodation where they can feel safe, sleep, use a particular area as a toilet, and be confined to when unsupervised. You can give lavender to your rabbit fresh or even dried, allowing your rabbit to forage for the yummy pieces of lavender. But,inform yourself before doing this because it might not be the best idea. Lynxes are also native to North America but are typically found in the northern parts of the continent. Makes you want a spicy bowl of chili right now, yes? You can take advantage of this trait by using scents they dislike, such as garlic, vinegar, chili powder, predator urine, sulfur, blood meal, chives, lavender, geraniums, and wax begonias. As I learned more and more I decided to create this website to share my passion and experience of these amazing animals. Rabbits the feeling of fear. Using an olfactory offense plan could be very effective against rabbits, but its not foolproof. Sign me up to receive pest tips and news! If you are looking at using this home remedy, simply dilute some white rice vinegar in a spray bottle of water, and spray it liberally in the area surrounding your plants. Still, it will be markedly less attractive when theyve eaten a few of the plants youve been working hard at maintaining all season. Keep the area as peaceful as possible. Actually, Rabbits do not like the smell of peppermint.To help keep rabbits out of garden areas, put 2-3 drops of Young Living . You havea number ofoptions for using garlic as a rabbit repellant. The scent irritates the sensitive sinus of rabbits quite quickly. Yes, blood meal and bone meal can keep rabbits away from your flowers and food plants. Add water to cover, and place into a covered container overnight. The entire list of plants that rabbits will eat, or at least sample, is too long to list out. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. But the following are rabbit favorites: Tender, young leaves are the most susceptible, although they will sample many plants in the vegetable garden: These plants often sustain the most damage, because they are tender and generally out in the open with no protection: Rabbits prefer tender woody plants with thin bark, so new plants and shoots are at the most risk. All rights reserved. It may be better to use something else from the same family that has more pungency, like lavender. Copyright 2023 This Old House Ventures, LLC. Effects of coyote control on their prey: a review. Sullivan, T. P., Nordstrom, L. O., & Sullivan, D. S. (1985). The powerful concentration of scents that essential oils deliver make them a great deterrent to rabbits. Its formulated with a base mix of putrescent whole egg solids, capsaicin, and garlic, which are actually three of the individual scents we talk about on this list! Theyll keep rabbits away without hurting them or your plants. 12 Ways To Get Crows To Shut Up And Stop Cawing, 3 Unique Ways That Raccoons Can Damage Your Trees, Why Bats Will Leave On Their Own (And What To Do If They Dont), 8 Signs Of A Skunk Den (And How to Find Them), How To Identify And Naturally Remove Mealybugs In Your Soil. - Health Risks and Issues; Dr Elly. It has an NPK ratio of 12-0-0, meaning there are large amounts of nitrogen without phosphorus or potassium. If using corn cobs, periodically re-soak them in vinegar because the smell will fade over time. Spray onto plants, repeating after rainfall. Rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, deer, and other creatures will eventually avoid it. But garlic is toxic to rabbits and can make them very sick, so they wont often eat it. By accosting their refined sense of smell, there is a likelihood theyll stay away from your foliage and look somewhere else. If you are growing any of these indoors or near your rabbits enclosure, move them because they could be causing stress or discomfort that you never knew about. In cats, the smell of valerian can be exciting, much like the more intense reactions they have to catnip. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. using things like chicken wire or mesh around. Rabbit owners often find themselves wondering about the reasons behind this My interest in rabbits started over a decade ago when I bought one as a gift and ended up being the primary carer. Therefore, unlike dogs, rabbits do not have a very distinct "Rabbit Smell". Aside from aiding in indigestion, it can also reduce stress. Sprinkle several drops around the vicinity of your garden or around the plants from which you wish to deter the rabbits. However, they will be able to smell that another animal is living in the yard, and that alone may help scare them away. Its completely safe around children and household pets too. This can then be used along the borders. link to Thump, Thump! Rabbits, on the other hand, are not coffee fans and they certainly wont be setting up home in your garden at its scent. This is not only an easy do-it-yourself solution, but its repeatable over and over again. Also, take the strained pepper flakes and sprinkle them around your plants. Rabbits sense of smell is much more developed than that of humans. While they may not eat these particular plants, they may simply eat around them. Yes. One of the more reputable coyote urines on the market is PredatorPee Original Coyote Urine. Their strategic placement can be surprisingly effective atdeterting, https://www.rabbitcaretips.com/rabbits-sense-of-smell/, https://gardenerdy.com/homemade-rabbit-repellent/, https://petspruce.com/vinegar-keep-rabbits-away/, http://www.planitdiy.com/inspiration/in-lawn-garden/use-red-pepper-flakes-to-ward-off-unwanted-pests/, http://livedan330.com/2015/02/11/keep-rabbits-out-of-garden-using-essential-oils/, https://www.gardenguides.com/blood-meal-rabbit-repellent-7608.html, https://homeguides.sfgate.com/stop-turtle-eating-tomatoes-garden-46078.html, https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/animals/using-predator-urine-in-gardens.htm, https://www.farmersalmanac.com/tips-for-keeping-rabbits-out-of-garden-21167, Protecting Your Garden From Wildlife - Modern Homesteading Podcast, How To Protect Growing Pumpkins From Animals (11 Ways), HowToKeep Deer OutOfYour GardenWithFishing Line, Do Bird Feeders Attract Mice (& How To Stop Them), 16 Foods That Attract Mice (And How To Use Them), Peanut Butter Mouse Trap Not Working (9 Solutions).