While Peter Cottontail might be adorable and snuggly, the rabbit problem we face in California leaves homeowners feeling less than warm and fuzzy. These adorable creatures can cause problems for your property when they are left to their devices. The rabbit population is getting larger and larger while some homeowners may not know what can be done to solve the problem. Animal Pest Management Services, Inc. is here to share some information about the problem wild rabbits pose and what can be done to get rid of them.
Cottontail Rabbits in Urban Areas
Most of the rabbits that you see in urban areas are cottontail rabbits. You may think that rabbits only thrive in wooded areas, but they are actually quite happy in suburbia. They usually live on the edge of some open areas and will come into your property to steal a nibble on the plant life found in your landscaping. They burrow their nests in the ground and will damage nearby lawns and gardens. Following are some of the problems you may face when you have a rabbit problem near your home.
Lawn Damaged By Rabbits
Rabbits have an insatiable appetite when it comes to greens. They will strip your gardens of all the blossoms they can fit in their mouths. You can usually tell you have a rabbit problem, because the plant will usually be eaten clear down to the ground. This can be avoided by setting up some sort of barrier around your flowers and vegetable plants; since these are their favorite snacks. All it will take is some 2 ft. tall chicken wire and some stakes. They don’t climb over any barriers so you don’t have to worry about completely closing them off. You will need to secure the bottom of the wire so they can’t burrow beneath it and get to your plants.
Protect Trees from Rabbits
Unfortunately, rabbits don’t only like your flowers and vegetable plants. They will nibble at the bark of your trees and cause damage there as well. You can wrap the trunk of your trees with tree wrap and keep them pruned so there are no low-lying branches that they can damage. The branches will need to be at least 18 inches from the ground.
Wild Rabbits Carry Diseases
While these animals are sweet and cute, you should never attempt to touch them or catch them in any way. They carry tularemia and this can be transmitted to humans through contact or consumption. If you do try to handle one, you should have gloves on and wash thoroughly when finished.
Wild Rabbit & Wildlife Inspection, Control, Removal & More in San Bernardino, Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside & San Diego Counties, California
If you are tired of battling an ever growing rabbit population, you can count on Animal Pest Management Services, Inc. to take care of the problem for you. We provide wild rabbit control and removal to help keep the population down on your property. We have the skills and equipment needed to safely remove any wildlife that may be causing damage to your property or pose a threat to your home and pets. Call us today!