How Long Does It Take For Rabbits To Learn Their Name? What Smells Do Rabbits Hate? {Liked vs. Disliked Smells} How do coffee grounds keep rabbits away? I've since adopted another 6 which I guess makes me a crazy bunny dad! Even though rabbits have a strong sense of smell, lemon may not actually repel them. How does one identify rabbit damage and what do they eat? Trapping them may create more problems than it solves. Do Rabbits Eat Peppermint? - Stellina Marfa Yes, urine from natural predators to rabbits will keep them away. Deer and rabbits often ignore strongly scented herbs such as basil, rosemary, and oregano. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. Lemongrass. 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. Lemongrass, a herb used in many recipes and essential oils, can be grown as a perennial plant with low maintenance. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Oranges, lemons, limes, Dust the soil around the plants you wish to deter rabbits from and, over that, layer some black pepper for added effect. You're not alone! Sage is also high in fiber and helps with a rabbit's . Read More 8 Signs Of A Skunk Den (And How to Find Them)Continue, Protect your assets! Plants Rabbits Will Not Eat - The Spruce Make a bad-tasting rabbit cocktail by grinding together three hot peppers, three large onions, and one whole bunch of garlic. You could plant some bulbs around the garden too. Termites cause billions of dollars in damage each year in the U.S. While the urine of any predator will increase your chances of repelling rabbits, if they arent familiar with the scent in your area, it may not do you any good. No, citrus does not keep rabbits away. Rabbits can quickly adapt to many olfactory offenses and youhave tokeep up. So if you live in the Southeast or Southwest, coyote urine may be an excellent go-to for scaring rabbits away. Answer: The rodenticide baits are only labeled for rats and mice and meant to attractant these types of rodents. Strain, and then add enough water to make a gallon of the mixture. I was surprised to learn that Irish Spring bar soap is an inexpensive rabbit repellent. Its going to depend on how bad the infestation is. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. 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. The Spruce /Micah Issitt and Adrienne Legault. Rabbits are observed to sniffling almost all the time. Rosemary is one of the safest herbs that we can feed rabbits. There is a reason why smelling them away remains the most popular solution amongst gardeners, it can be a quick an effecitve strategy to keeping rabbits away from your plants and making your harvest (or just your flowers) all the more fruitful. You can make spray oil by heating up 1/3 cup oil with cup chili flakes to around 300F. Many owners mistakenly believe that this essential oil is good for getting rid of fleas or fungus on rabbits. This is not only an easy do-it-yourself solution, but its repeatable over and over again. In an article published on Michigan State University Extension, its stated that while dried blood can infact be used to repel rabbits (along with deer), the blood will lose its effectiveness after a rainfall and will need to be reapplied. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'bunnyadvice_com-leader-1','ezslot_5',633,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-bunnyadvice_com-leader-1-0'); Similarly, when keratin breaks down an amino acid known as cysteine is produced which is also packed full of sulfur atoms. The scent and aroma of coffee grounds are some of the nicest in the world. Hopefully, your flowers and plants will be rabbit proof after utilizing one or a few of the above suggestions. The entire list of plants that rabbits will eat, or at least sample, is too long to list out. Do Coffee Grounds Keep Rabbits Away? (How to Effectively Use them) To humans, coffee is known to be one of the nicest scents in the world. While we mentioned before how rabbits are connoisseurs of almost every plant and flower, there are a few flowers that rabbits turn their noses up at, for whatever reason. While they may not eat these particular plants, they may simply eat around them. 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.. HumanWildlife Interactions, 8(1), 12. Sulfur mimicks the scent of rotten eggs (mentioned in the garlic section) which rabbits despise due to their sensitive noses. Fortunately, there are plenty of simple ingredients you can find in most homes that will do this job without the need for expensive repellents. Essential oils can be pleasing for some as it is said to have relaxing properties, but others may hate them and be repulsed by these strong odors. Do rabbits hate the smell of peppermint? These elusive pests spell nothing but trouble. Actually, Rabbits do not like the smell of peppermint.To help keep rabbits out of garden areas, put 2-3 drops of Young Living Peppermint Oil on a cotton ball or piece of fabric. Most cats are bothered by citrus smells, such as lemon, lime, orange, and grapefruit. Be careful if a rabbit is your own because the loud sounds that you have in the garden can alarm your rabbit who may choose to never come out to play in this location ever again. The rabbit will instead, in most cases, remain motionless or lie down in a state of playing dead as a response to these smells. But,it is toxic to rabbits, and it can hurt them. Here is a link to an article that goes into greater detail about why a rabbit's ears might hot or cold to the touch. Dust. A rabbits excellent sense of smell can be a negative and positive. Rabbits the feeling of fear. You get to enjoy the look and aroma of the fresh lavender, and it will keep those pesky fur balls out! But garlic is toxic to rabbits and can make them very sick, so they wont often eat it. But,inform yourself before doing this because it might not be the best idea. What smells do rabbits hate? You can leave some vinegar in a jar or spray it in areas that you do not wish for rabbits to enter. Lemon; Final Thoughts. Rabbits have large incisors, similar to squirrels and mice. Is Vinegar Safe For Rabbits? - Ask My Rabbit By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, deer, and other creatures will eventually avoid it. While predator scents will scare them away (well go over that in a moment), most other odors will annoy them away more than scare them. Do not use scented chemicals around your pet, and regularly clean your rabbit's hutch. And these oils are generally NOT safe for rabbits: anise, clove, oregano, tea tree, wintergreen. Since theyre found all over, its a good bet to use coyote urine instead of one of the other predator scents, as theres a very good chance that an intruding rabbit will know what the presence of a coyote seems like. You can also use lemon essential oil by adding 10 drops to a spray bottle of water and using it in the same way. The most important factor in encouraging your rabbit to recognize and respond to you is spending time with your bunny. Think of it this way. No, citrus does not keep rabbits away. Julie Thompson-Adolf is a Master Gardener and author. Aside from barking, dogs will sniff, grumble, and make noise as they tromp through your yard. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Basically, chili powder has an active ingredient called capsaicin that does all the irritating we mentioned. It comes with scent tags, so you can spray the tag itself and place it nearby your plants, where the smell itself will last a bit longer being infused with the tag. Smells Rabbits Hate (That You Probably Own!) - Bunny Advice You can use both blood and bone meal if it will be beneficial to your plants. Luckily for me, Vito isnt the biggest pest in my life. Try looking out for a bulk bag of chili powder at your local wholesale store and spread the mix around your garden 1-2 times a week to keep the scent at its peak. y so as not to harm plants or other animals; or to deter predators from your property. Pet Rabbit Smell? The truth about rabbit odor. If you live in a rural location, you may have also experienced problems with other mammals such as deer and coffee will work just as well for these larger creatures. Will A Mom Rabbit Come Back For Her Babies? It should be no surprise that plants with a strong fragrance or fuzzy leaves like lavender and black-eyed Susan are less popular with rabbits. Chives and other alliums (such as onions), sage, yarrow, and catmint are just as distasteful to rabbits as they are to deer. When Im not out roaming around 50+ acres of pastures, woods, and a freshwater bass pond, Im at my computer writing on Pest Pointers. 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. While it may not smell appealing to you either, these scents will undoubtedly make rabbits do a triple take before even thinking about venturing into your yard. This is specially designed to block rabbits from your land and is difficult for them to circumvent, particularly when installed by a professional. Rabbits, if hungry enough, will disregard any offenses to their sense of smell and eat your plants, flowers, veggies and fruits anyway. Garlic has a sharp and pungent smell that many animals do not like. USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9. Some rabbits may get accustomed to the smell, thereby eating your garden anyway and to their hearts content. This is a great option if you have a variety of pests ravishing your garden. One of the more reputable coyote urines on the market is PredatorPee Original Coyote Urine. Darren is the founder and editor at Bunny Advice and has been caring for rabbits for over a decade. Wolves are typically found in similar places as lynxes: cold, mountainous, or in a more northern area, particularly the Northwest parts of the United States or Canada. Yet other gardeners report that rabbits get used to the taste or smell and eat your plants anyway. uhave tomonitor each method with a close eye to see if itsactually workingagainst rabbit invasions. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. When picking a scent, make sure you choose one that will be a natural predator to the rabbits in your area. Michael Morris, hard goods manager at the Longmont Flower Bin, has rabbit and deer repellent products and plants that the critters don't like at its . Often those noises will help scare any potential rabbit invaders away. Is it bothering you or your rabbit? While this may mean getting rid of some plants you like, the payoff for your garden may be worthwhile. Most people love the smell and look of a batch of fresh geraniums in their garden, so planting some to ward off rabbits is definitely a win-win! Some species or unique rabbits may hate them, but this is not a smell that makes the list of scents that all rabbits hate. What Smells Are Toxic To Rabbits? - Stellina Marfa Why does this work? Blood meal or rather, dried blood. How Do Rabbits React to Smells They Hate? Read our. Add water to cover, and place into a covered container overnight. Its healthy for the plants, but repels wild rabbits. He has a passion for helping animals and sharing his experience and knowledge with others. Common ingredients that rabbits hate the smell of include garlic, white vinegar, chili peppers, rotten eggs (sulfur), and certain strong perfumes. Required fields are marked *. Other plants that rabbits hate include: Rabbits leave these plants alone in the wild. Fireplace fumes ensure your house is well ventilated so carbon dioxide fumes are properly dispersed. Im currently drinking coffee and I dont think my rabbit wants to be anywhere near me. Rosemary is an aromatic herbal plant that has needle-like leaves. Rabbits, on the other hand, are not coffee fans and they certainly wont be setting up home in your garden at its scent. Deer can damage plants 6 feet high, and they tear plants when eating so that the stems and leaves are ragged, not cleanly cut like rabbit damage. The intricate design of their olfactory system allows them to smell food and danger many miles away. Yes, garlic is very effective at keeping rabbits away. Rabbits have 100 million scent cells, making for a very keen sense of smell, which they use to identify other rabbits and animals. . Soak a couple of used corn cobs, paper towels, or cotton balls in some vinegar and place them around the plants you want the rabbits to stay away from. Image by nautilus64 from Pixabay. Sarah Scott is a fact-checker and researcher who has worked in the custom home building industry in sales, marketing, and design. Do Rabbits Eat Lantana? (Read This First!) - OneHappyLemon So, what smells do rabbits hate so much? Some bunnies will not care or even love the taste. Not all rabbits do it . Infinitely more convenient are sulfur powders, an example of which can be found here (link to Amazon.com). However, do note that the scent of begonias is more likely to be pungent on sunny days, so you may not get as strong of rabbit repelling scent on those cloudy, overcast days. I'm sure you're as curious as I am about the adorable and fluffy Lionhead rabbits. Manage Settings A rabbit may not wish to come back to the same area where they hear these noises ever again. In Symposium ProceedingsCoyotes in the Southwest: A Compendium of Our Knowledge (1995) (p. 27). Rabbit control. Possible Reasons Why a Seemingly Healthy Rabbit Can Suddenly Die. Some people are fine setting traps because they enjoy a good rabbit stew. They like to eat almost any fruit. But,inform yourself before doing this because it might not be the best idea. 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. They're known for their distinctive mane, making them look like the lions of Thump, Thump! Screw on the lid, shake well, and spray onto your plants. Theyll keep rabbits away without hurting them or your plants. Additionally, people attest to crushing fresh garlic cloves and placing them over the desired perimeter. A Guide To Keep Your Rabbit (and House) From Smelling Bad - The Bunny Lady In general healthy rabbits don't smell bad at all. Valerian root has been studied, along with silvervine and honeysuckle, as a catnip alternative and does seem to appeal to cats who don't care for the more commonly-used . If youve been looking for an excuse to get a dog, heres one! Can rabbits eat limes? - Cute Rabbit Pets How to Take Your House Rabbit Outside Safely {How Cold Is Too Cold For Rabbits?}? Rabbits are herbivores and tend to eat all parts of a plantfrom the roots and the stems to soft, tender leaves and flowerspreferring new growth over old. You havea number ofoptions for using garlic as a rabbit repellant. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Allow it to dry a little and tear pieces off, placing them in various areas around the desired area. It is very hardy and grows up to 4 feet tall. I love all animals and love writing about them. Garlic powder can be sprinkled, or fresh cloves can be crushed and scattered around areas where rabbits are being a pest. While rabbits are our passion and we are confident in our research any rabbit with a life-threatening issue or injury should be taken immediately to the nearest vet. 11 Smells That Cats Love (And Some They Don't!) - Pet Keen Mint and peppermint essential oils are good choices, as are lemon balm and rosemary. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Most of the time, owners report their rabbits enjoying the plant. On the contrary, rabbits find coffee to be an overpowering smell that quickly makes them turn and run in the opposite direction. Because of their especially sensitive respiratory tracts, birds are at particular risk when using essential oil diffusers. Rabbits sniff and respond to pleasant or foul odors by following their nose. 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). Also, some people report that rabbits will develop a taste for it and eat the plants regardless. My impression of a rabbit is one where I make a sniffing face with my nose scrunched upwards. They're affectionate and can simply be house-trained. Again, the strong scent of sulfer here is the key. Since rabbits do most of their foraging during dawn and dusk, they prefer to head towards places they can easily stay hidden from coyotes, lynxes, foxes, and other animals that may see them as a tasty snack. But,you want to ma. That's my buddy, Vito. Citrus Scents. A rabbit that is stuck in an enclosure will either play dead or remain motionless. Heres a little bonus that you can and SHOULD try out not using a scent at all. Rabbits are so sensitive to respiratory changes and problems that I wouldnt take the risk, even if your rabbits seem okay with candles and other scents. What Scents Are Toxic To Rabbits? - Stellina Marfa Knowing the specifictypethey are, their eating habits, what their natural predatorsare,and other similar details will be the first step in deterring them from your plants. Nevertheless, their urine can have a sharp ammonia odor to it. Simply put, were going to smell them away! She grew up with cats and rabbits, and knew from a young age that she wanted to help animals in whatever way she could. Vanilla is used sometimes as a soothing scent to rub on rabbits who are spooked or uncomfortable. Vinegar doesnt stain or damage your home and provide excellent signals for restricted areas. Color Varieties: Red, pink, and blue. Yes, blood meal and bone meal can keep rabbits away from your flowers and food plants. So, you may see increased fox or coyote activity because of the smell, which may create additional problems. If you dont like the thought of having to mix this yourself, take a peek at the Safer Brand Critter Ridder: Deer and Rabbit Repellent. We want to provide you with all the information for your furry little pals! P.S. Citrus fruits such as oranges or lemons and grapefruits do not necessarily repel all rabbits. Dust the soil around the plants you wish to deter rabbits from and, over that, layer some black pepper for added effect. If your rabbit likes lemon balm for example, then keep using it. Moshobane, Claude Moshobane et al. These little buggers can wreak havoc on entire crops in one night, leaving nothing left for you, your family, or anyone you intend to sell to. But, after theyre gone, repeat this regimen about once a month to prevent any new rabbits from invading your garden. Like garlic, vinegars sharp smell is a powerful rabbit deterrent. If you have any type of wood materials inside, on,, Read More 8 Scents that Termites HateContinue, Mealybugs might just be the very last thing you want to find lurking in your soil! This site is run by Anna, Niklas and Jesper - three curious, caring and animal-loving people. Valerian root is part of an herb that is commonly used in humans for sleep disorders and anxiety. I grew up in an area of Upstate, NY where dealing with wildlife pests is a common occurrence. Visit our Terms and Conditions for more information. Most of them are used as repellents for wild, nuisance rabbits to prevent from ravaging gardens and farms. Unfortunately, these plants will not deter them completely. If you are interested in how to deter rabbits, there are ways to control them from overrunning your garden. Consider adding plants with a strong scent a rabbit's sense of smell is much . Sprinkling chili flakes around the base of your peonies and other garden flowers are quick, easy, and effective. Deer can damage plants 6 feet high, and they tear plants when eating so that the stems and leaves are ragged, not cleanly cut like rabbit damage. Peppermint, Pine, Sweet Birch, Tea Tree, Wintergreen. 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! The nasal membrane is very sensitive to perfumes, chemicals and dust, and these agents can cause upper respiratory problems for the rabbit. Yes. They may take a bite, but they will experience the heat and wont like it. Frequently Asked Questions Screw on the lid, shake well, and spray onto your plants. and other creatures will eventually avoid it. While her keen nose keeps your pet safe, its also extremely sensitive. If youve ever taken a big whiff of raw quality grade chili powder, youll know what Im talking about here. I have not tried it myself, but it has been recommended by members of the rabbit lover community in its essential oil form. This rabbit may refuse your affection and make stop eating altogether. But it is worth a try. Strain out the oil, put it in a spray bottle, and top it off with warm water. As I learned more and more I decided to create this website to share my passion and experience of these amazing animals. That being said, you really only need to plant these flowers if you enjoy the look of them, or as an extra buffer against rabbits, after utilizing another solution. OK maybe not. To get you started, we have put together all the details you will need to know to gently yet effectively repel rabbits.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'bunnyadvice_com-box-4','ezslot_1',630,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-bunnyadvice_com-box-4-0'); As prey animals, rabbits have a powerful sense of smell they rely on to keep them alive. 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