Common toxic plants for rabbits in Australia include Oleander, Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Daffodils, Tulips, Lilies, Ivy, Foxgloves, Hemlock, Buttercups, Poppies, Privet, and most bulb plants, plus common items like Rhubarb leaves, Potato tops, and Tomato leaves, with even common houseplants often being unsafe, so prevention is key. Always remove or secure these from your garden and home to protect your rabbit.
The most poisonous plants for rabbits include Azalea, Bittersweet, Buttercups, Daffodils, Deadly Nightshade, Figwort, Foxglove, Hemlock, Meadow Saffron, Poppies, and Ragwort.
Pindone is a first-generation anticoagulant poison (similar to some rat poisons), used to control rabbits in Australia since the 1980's. In Tasmania, Pindone is the preferred poison for rabbits rather than 1080 because of the risk of 1080 to other animals such as domestic cats and dogs.
It's easy to take care of them, but you should keep in mind the things these little guys do NOT like the most.
Common rabbit poisons
The 3-3-3 rule for rabbits (and other pets) is a guideline for adjusting to a new home: 3 Days for the rabbit to feel overwhelmed and hide, 3 Weeks to start settling in and showing personality, and 3 Months to feel truly at home and build a strong bond. It helps adopters manage expectations, understand that fear and skittishness are normal, and encourages patience as the bunny decompresses in its new environment, emphasizing providing a safe space and routine.
Poisoning with sodium monofluoroacetate (1080) is one of the most effective methods of quickly reducing rabbit numbers and is usually performed prior to harbour destruction and warren fumigation. 1080 is an odourless, tasteless white powder that has a special dye added for identification of the toxin.
Natural Predators That Kill Rabbits in Your Yard
Common culprits include foxes, coyotes, hawks, owls, raccoons, snakes, and even domestic pets like dogs and cats. These animals see rabbits as an easy meal, especially the young, sick, or slow-moving ones, and often strike early in the morning or late at night.
In answer to the question what animal eats rabbits, the most common that springs to mind is the fox. But there are numerous others including pet dogs and cats, birds of prey, stoats, weasels, ferrets, badgers and snakes.
Ageratum, cleome, flowering tobacco, snapdragons and verbenas appear on several rabbit resistant plant lists. Russian sage is also often listed as deer resistant and rabbit resistant. You can also try red trillium, pasque flower and wild petunia.
Rabbits can ingest enough of this poison if the eat grass of plants that have recently been sprayed with herbicide. Rat Bait: if you think your rabbit has eaten rat bait and you have the packing, please bring it with you to the vets as different rat poisons have different effect.
A rabbit staying in your yard usually means it's found food, shelter, and safety. It may also be nesting nearby or using the area to feed regularly. Rabbits might seem like quiet, harmless guests, but when one keeps hanging around your yard, it's worth paying attention.
As a rule, a rabbit should be able to take at least three hops in a row from one end to the other. It can be difficult to buy purpose-built accommodation measuring these dimensions but there's no reason why you can't build your own! Rabbits are a prey species and need to be able to hide from things that scare them.
For Your Pet: Lavender is okay for a rabbit eat although they tend to stay away due to their strong scent. Warning: Do not overfeed your pet lavender as it may result in them becoming sick.
If you think your rabbit has been poisoned
Stay calm and remove your rabbit(s) from the source of poison. Contact your vet immediately - say when, where and how it happened. If possible, you can carefully take the packaging, plant or substance to the vet, but only if you can do this safely.
Rabbits aren't just important prey for other species; they also provide natural fertilizer and can even be seed dispersers of rare plants, notes Deborah Robbins Millman, director of outreach for the HSUS-affiliated South Florida Wildlife Center.
Do rabbits really like carrots? Yes, they do! But carrots are more like a sugary treat for a rabbit (so are fruits), so they should be given in small quantities. They can upset a rabbit's digestive system if given too much.
A friendly lick is another way your rabbit shows affection. 'It's that grooming instinct again, and the way rabbits relax and socialise with other rabbits they have bonded to,' says Rosie. 'They will do this if feeling relaxed, secure and content when sitting on your lap.
Poisonous to Rabbits
Rabbits are what's known as a crepuscular species, which means they are most active during and around dawn and dusk. Rabbits will frequently nap throughout the day and night, so these aren't the best time to interact with them.
There are different toxins available for use in different areas; however the most commonly used is 1080 oat baits. Before introducing the poisoned bait, it is important to encourage all rabbits to feed on the trail by free-feeding. Successful baiting programs should aim to kill 95% of the rabbit population1,2.
The following list shows plants that are known to be poisonous to rabbits.
How to Get Rabbits Out of Your Yard
The best bait for rabbits includes brussel sprouts, carrots, lettuce and apples; you can also spray the inside of the trap with apple cider. Unusual rabbit baiting tips include crumbling up cheesy biscuits and placing them inside the trap.