A rabbit is causing considerable damage to plants in my fenced backyard. It appears to prefer natives and has nibbled woodland phlox, bellwort, black-eyed susan, and sensitive fern down to the ground. It is a master at hiding and, as I can’t spot any hole in the fence, I think that it is trapped in the yard. I’d appreciate any suggestions for catching him and/ or deterring feeding on my favorite plants.
Thanks for contacting Toronto Master Gardeners. How frustrating it must be to have all of your beautiful native plants eaten by an animal intruder. To get advice on how to deal appropriately with a rabbit in your yard contact:
the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry https://www.ontario.ca/page/ministry-natural-resources-and-forestry
or the Toronto Wildlife Centre https://www.torontowildlifecentre.com/
To avoid the problem of rabbits getting into your yard in the future, consider attaching a two and half foot hardwire mesh that is no larger than one inch to the fence. To stop rabbits from burrowing under the mesh dig a six inch trench and sink six inches of the chicken wire underground leaving two feet above ground. For more information on deterring wildlife please review the following link: