Many common garden and houseplants are poisonous to rabbits, including Foxglove, Rhubarb leaves, Ivy, Buttercups, Nightshade, Azalea, Rhododendron, Yew, and most plants that grow from bulbs (like daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths), as well as seeds from apples, avocados, and many others, all of which can cause severe illness or death by affecting the digestive, respiratory, or cardiovascular systems. Prevention is key, so keep all potentially toxic plants out of reach.
The most poisonous plants for rabbits include Azalea, Bittersweet, Buttercups, Daffodils, Deadly Nightshade, Figwort, Foxglove, Hemlock, Meadow Saffron, Poppies, and Ragwort.
When out foraging, there are several plants you need to avoid. Foxgloves, poppy, ivy, buttercups, bluebells and nightshade have already been mentioned, and so has ragwort. Ragwort is a biennial.
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.
Poisonous to Rabbits
Herbicides: many herbicides contain glyphosate which is poisonous to rabbits, other chemicals in individuals products may also be toxic. Rabbits can ingest enough of this poison if the eat grass of plants that have recently been sprayed with herbicide.
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.
Baits containing 1080 and Pindone are used for wild rabbit control in South Australia. Baiting is an efficient way to control rabbit populations and reduce their impacts on agricultural production and native species.
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.
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.
CAUTION: May cause phytophotodermatitis where sap touches the skin and is exposed to sunlight; wear long sleeves if handling. Also can easily be confused with the native, yet deadly, poison hemlock. Queen Anne's lace should be reported.
It's easy to take care of them, but you should keep in mind the things these little guys do NOT like the most.
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.
While fencing or netting provides the best physical barrier to keep the rabbits out, you can also make nontoxic chemical repellents to discourage the rabbits from eating the plants. A homemade mixture made with hot peppers sprayed on your garden plants will repel the rabbits because the peppers contain capsaicin.
Sprinkling coffee grounds among your plants may help to ward off rabbits and other small mammals due to coffee's powerful scent. Plus, it composts naturally over time, giving your plants some extra nutrients!
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.
Rabbits are naturally social animals and companionship is important to them. In the wild, rabbits live in family groups which can reach up to 30 in one warren! Mammal Society. If they are kept alone, they may begin to show some abnormal behaviour, especially if left without company for long periods of time.
Rabbits need unlimited access to grass and hay, so they shouldn't ever be left without food. However, if it's an emergency and there's no other choice, then they can go up to 12 hours without eating.
Rabbits can definitely form a strong bond with their human caregivers, showing signs of attachment through behaviours like seeking attention and responding positively to interaction.
Common rabbit poisons
Is it safe to include carrots in a rabbit's diet? The short answer is yes, but only in moderation. While carrots are a popular treat, their high sugar content means they should be fed sparingly.
Only give small amounts of fruit 2 or 3 days a week because the natural sugar in fruits can make bunnies fat and cause their teeth to rot. Bananas and grapes are very high in sugar and should only be given in small amounts (like 3 grapes or 3 thin slices of banana) 2 or 3 times a month as a treat.