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Eastern Pennsylvania

will rabbits harm your pumpkins? i need to know whether to deal harshly or let them be. thanks -jim gerhardt

7/13/2010 11:49:06 AM

Pataskala,OH

They might eat tips but they can't do too much damage I would think. If you have a fence they will stay away usually.

7/13/2010 11:55:57 AM

Ham Lake, Minnesota

I had one this year dig a hole right next to the main vine and into the root system so he had a little cool hideout from the sun to hang out.

7/13/2010 12:09:55 PM

Somers, CT

they eat the tips off the mains. My dog chases them away. At my house they are classified as a nuisance althought the bobcat thinks they are tasty treats.

7/13/2010 12:11:04 PM

Ohio

That diwector is starting to wub me the wong way...lol

I see rabbits all the time in my patch Jim, and then a few seconds after I see them, I then see a medium to large tan and black flash running right behind them,,,(that would be my dog),,lol...

other growers say they have had problems with them chewing on their plants, but I have never had a problem with them gnawing on any plant I have ever grown,,

the only problem I have had with rabbits is my dog chasing them through my patch, she will tear up the dirt, break and knock over leaves and vines when she chases after them ,,lol

7/13/2010 12:13:19 PM

Corbin, KY

I have seen several rabbits in my patch but never any damage from them. As a matter of fact I see them in the hot part of the day resting under the big leaves in the shade.

7/13/2010 12:21:47 PM

Ohio

I have a electric fence around my patch Jim, and it dont stop them from getting into my patch, they will run the top of their backs right up against the fence wire when they go under it, with out them being shocked.
But as soon as my dog touches it (which isnt very often now) you would have thought she was hit by a grenade or something the way she acts,, HAHA,,lol!!!!


how and why a rabbit can do this and not get shocked is beyond me,, maybe the rabbit doesnt make a good ground for himself to get shocked because of its hair and also because of its size? I have no clue though,,lol, but they never get shocked, while everything else that touches it, including myself gets zapped!,,lol

7/13/2010 12:33:15 PM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

I have seen rabbits nibble on growing pumpkins. The damage usually heals over. Fox urine scares them away. As for the electric fence, I have the same results as Brooks. Maybe they are so fast that they hit the wire between pulses or are off the ground when they hit it and aren't grounded well enough to get zapped.

7/13/2010 12:52:05 PM

Bristol R.I. USA

the wabbits will kill any chances you have by eating the growing tips of the pumpkin vines setting you back. I had a big problem with that this year. I buried the conservation fence about 6 inches and layed down some dirt over it. It was just to much effort for the rabbits to rip through the fence or dig. Also I put around the perimeter of the patch some Have a heart traps and Some Have a Heart Critter ridder. Its got captations in it that will irritate the rabbits. Also some fox urine around the area. The rabbits avoid the area but can be seen. Havent had any problems after that.

7/13/2010 12:54:51 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Obviously you have not watched Wallace and Gromet...WereRabbits are a big problem

7/13/2010 1:15:03 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Lol Brooks what kind of dog do you have so my mental picture can be complete? And Wallace and Gromet is classic! Well my plants are pretty much maxed out and terminated for vines so I'm really only worried about the pumpkins themselves. Sounds like the risk is minimal so I think I'll take Iowegian's advice and get some fox urine.

7/13/2010 1:19:22 PM

Western NY

they won't destroy a plant like woodchucks can, they just nibble. if you're spraying insecticides and fish, they probably won't even bother anyway.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=68316

7/13/2010 2:04:54 PM

Ohio

right here she is Jimmy,,,ha!!

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=31742

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=43466

7/13/2010 2:29:25 PM

Littleton, Colo

Yes.....they took bitez out around the bottom of all our pumpkinz lazt year.....a few moth ballz around the fruit repelled them....they chewed on irrigation hozez .....eating the corn thiz year......

7/13/2010 2:29:52 PM

Joliet, IL

i also had one make a nice rabbit hole over night inside a heated greenhouse right behind my stump similar to alex. i was not happy. that was the first rabbit ever to do any damage to a plant in 9 years. coyote urine and dog hair from my dogs brush kept it away after that.

7/13/2010 2:47:03 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

good advice, thanks guys!

Brooks, somehow that is exactly how I was picturing her! And great story about the program that you got her from. I wish I had a pic like that second one of my cat...

7/13/2010 5:29:32 PM

Okla

Wabbits are easy to catch. All you have to do is put a small ice box by the patch, make sure it is a westing house, hehehehehehehehe

7/13/2010 7:02:44 PM

long Island

When trying to catch a wabbit, you have to be Wery, Wery, Quiet

7/13/2010 9:29:36 PM

Ohio

lol wally!!!

7/14/2010 7:15:02 AM

Littleton, Colo

....Geico !!...Get Geico !!.......

7/14/2010 11:17:41 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Dem wabbits, like my early stuff...cabbage, brocolli, cauliflower, when there young!! I now enclose them in silt fence barriers...and all is good!!! After that, I put them on a high metal diet!!! Peace, Wayne

7/15/2010 2:30:50 AM