Many people spend their whole adult life trying to rid the lawn and garden of rabbits. On-the-other-hand, there are those who do everything they can to attract them. Knowing what attracts rabbits to the lawn and garden and the type of habitat rabbits prefer will make it easier to fill the yard with the magnificent creatures.
Wild Rabbits
Rabbits, just as humans, prefer a certain type of living quarters. Cottontail rabbits, for example, will call a pile of brush, a hollow log, or even shrubs their home. Although they get most of their water from tender plants keep a fresh supply of water nearby and plenty of food they enjoy.
According to EEK!, rabbits have two large top front teeth that are continually growing. Unknown to most, rabbits not only eat the vegetables out of the garden, but will gnaw away at tree bark and other small plants. Some rabbits will travel up to eight acres making their way around finding food.
Wild Rabbit Food
Rabbits enjoy an array of different foods, plants, and during the winter tree barks. Plant wild flowers on or near the property. Rabbits will snip off the flower stem low to the ground and eat up the stem until it comes to the flower last. If clover does not grow in the yard, pick up some seeds at a local supply store. Plant according to directions on package. Clover is one of a rabbits favorite foods.
Rose bushes are on a rabbits menu along with shrubs and tree seedling. Try to avoid feeding rabbits store bought food as the rabbit may become dependent on it and will not be able to survive as well in the wild. Hay is another food that rabbits will enjoy. The roughage of the hay will help support their digestive tract.
Some people will plant a small garden just for the rabbits to ‘chow down’ on. When planting a small garden for the rabbits consider planting vegetables such as: carrots, watercress, parsley, and beets. The rabbits may only eat the tops off of the carrots and beets, but will enjoy it just the same.
Things to Know About Wild Rabbits
Rabbits, as cute as they are, can also cause major damage to gardens, bushes, and small trees. A fence may need to be built to keep the rabbits away from certain areas that they are not welcome. A fence to keep rabbits out of the garden is best built with chicken wire about two feet high.
Once rabbits have taken up home in or around the yard, sit back and watch. Use binoculars to catch an up close view. Waiting for more rabbits shouldn’t take long as they multiply quickly. Some rabbits can have babies approximately every thirty days through the mating season.
Watching these cute creatures play can be a stress relief. At one moment, the rabbit is gnawing away at a meal until it hears something. Then, it will freeze like it is frozen in stone. When it feels safe, it will go back to eating its meal. Rabbits will also hop in a zig-zag manner leaving a trail of footprints to follow in the mud or snow that is unmistakable as to what kind of creature it is.
