We’ve built a high fence around the area where the fruit trees are planted. Most of the trees were there before the high fence so there are still “fence cages” around those trees. We have to keep the bunnies out because they will gnaw on the bark of some of the trees. We will eventually put smaller chicken wire cages around the bases of those trees. For over a year, the current cages have kept the rabbits out . . til this morning . . as far as we know.
This morning when I went out with Speck, there was a rabbit inside the cage of one of the sugar pear trees.
Inside the Cage
He looks much bigger than the holes in that wire so we weren’t sure how he got in there. He wasn’t real concerned about us . . just munching away on the grass.
Bunny in a Cage
As Vince was walking up, I was saying . . be careful . . no telling what he might do when he feels threatened. I was backing away, fearing what might happen, and all the while, thinking about the Ray Stevens song, The Mississippi Squirrel Revival.
Just as Vince got near the fence, the bunny wiggled through the wire and was off.
Bunny Escapes
My guess is . . that wasn’t his first or his last visit inside those cages.
Then I walked back towards the garden, keeping an eye on my feet to be sure there are no snakes, and came upon this guy.
Another Bunny
That’s my garden in the background. So far, the bunnies have not found a way into the garden . . at least as far as I can see. They are everywhere though. For the first few months we were here, there were two or three that we saw every night. Now, there are at least a dozen that we see every evening. They love to hang out under the bird feeders and eat the seeds dropped by the birds.
Diana in RR, TX says
You know what they say about rabbits! I know we have more than a few around here but they mostly stay in the front. The other critters help to keep the population in check! When we lived in the Chicago area and Dad was raising pine trees they brought us about 4 beautiful small Blue Spruce one spring. The next winter was a lot of snow-the rabbits ate every bit of the trees.
Linda in NE says
Rabbit cures:
Chicken wire around the bottom of your fences.
Get a bunch of cats.
Get out your .22 and use them for target practice.
Becky in VA says
I agree about the .22 – sometimes it’s necessary!
JudyL says
Good grief . . I didn’t say they were bothering us. We’ll put chicken wire around the bottom of the trees and the bunnies can live in harmony with us. We fence off the places we don’t want them to be. We do have chicken wire around the garden and that’s why they haven’t been in there.
I’ll take bunnies over cats any day!
JudyL says
We’re big gun rights folks and we love target shooting but we don’t use animals for target practice. If we shoot an animal, it’s for food or to protect ourselves. Bunnies are nowhere near that category. This time of year, bunnies have worms so we wouldn’t eat them and I don’t need to protect myself or my property from a dozen or so of them. The coyotes will eventually thin out the bunny population.
Roberta says
Some of the grasshopper damage might be bunnies at night when you are looking. Just thoughts.
Hugs!!!!
JudyL says
The grasshopper damage is inside the garden, where the bunnies don’t go. My lettuce and carrots are fine .. so I’m pretty sure there are no bunnies in there. The grasshopper damage is mostly leaves on the fruit trees and the tops of the asparagus plants .. if bunnies are doing that, I need to get Guinness folks out here.
shirley says
Ah Jack Rabbit my grandfathers favorite dish as good as deer meat.
JudyL says
In the summer? They’re full of worms this time of year.
Carolyn says
your not eating that wormy part. The rest tastes good!best stewed though.
JudyL says
Sorry Carolyn but there are worms/parasites in the meat this time of year. This site recommends not killing rabbits for meat until after a good frost.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090605184136AAnyQ60
I’ve lived in the south for a very long time and rabbits, as well as some fish, have worms in the meat this time of year.
Cathi in Podunk Texas says
We seem to have a bumper crop of bunnies this year. I have no garden, etc. to worry about so we just enjoy watching them.
AngieG9 says
You definitely don’t want to eat a bunny in the summer. Is there any kind of wire or screening that will keep the hoppers off the garden? And maybe off the fruit trees as well. It seems like there should be some kind of protection you can use — pepper spray maybe?
Linda Steller says
LOL – there’s a scene in Monty Python and the Holy Grail about a ‘harmless little bunny’. You have to watch out for those critters!
Sandra Neel Hutchins says
A sweet little bunny came up on our porch and licked my toes. Yes, they eat my flowers, but I still seem to have plenty. Somehow, nature does a pretty good balancing act and we reap the joys if we are acting in a way that is a part of the balance.
Donna F says
Judy you may want to walk around the yard and look for colored eggs as many bunnies you have running around out there lol. Did they not get the memo Easter is over.
Maxine says
Oever here it usually means a good season coming up if the rabbit population explodes
Hopefully it means lots of good summer rains for you too
maxine
Shari says
The jackrabbits in the pics are very plentiful here as well as regular bunnies. The coyotes can’t catch the jackrabbits which is why we have so many. 1″ chicken wire or wire cloth are the only things the bunnies won’t gp through…ask me how I know!
Judy Laquidara says
The rabbits in the picture are cottontails, not jackrabbits.