How to Trap Cottontail Rabbits
Cottontail rabbits can be nice to look at, but they can also be a gardener's worst nightmare. These little rodents can destroy a small garden in a single day if they are hungry enough. Since rabbits are herbivores, they'll take a sample of every vegetable in your garden until they find one they like. Repellents aren't always as reliable as one would like, so the next best solution is to set out traps. With the right technique, you can successfully and humanely trap cottontail rabbits. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Place a rabbit trap in a dark, secluded area of your yard. If you do not want to buy a trap, you can often rent them from trap specialist companies. To find a company near you, look under "Traps" in the yellow pages of your phone book.
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Set the sensitivity for the trip-plate according to the directions for your particular trap. The trip-plate is the device that causes the trap's doors to close when an animal enters it. Cottontail rabbits can weight less than 2 pounds, so the trip-plate should engage with 1 to 2 pounds of pressure
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Put a paper plate on top of the trip-plate. Not only will this increase the size of the trip-plate, but it will make the trap seem less intimidating.
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Put a peeled banana and grated carrot on the paper plate. Grated carrots tend to be more effective than whole carrots as the aroma is stronger.
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Cover the trap with a small blanket or towel. When the rabbit is covered, it reduces the chance of a potential predator trying to attack it and also reduces stress.
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Check the trap every four to six hours. Drive the rabbit at least a mile away once you catch it and set it loose.
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References
- Photo Credit eastern cottontail rabbit (sylvilagus floridanus) image by Bruce MacQueen from Fotolia.com
