# Kill the rabbit! Or not **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 12, 2018, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-the-rabbit-or-not/817760 "2018-07-12T00:59:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-the-rabbit-or-not/817760/1 "2018-07-12T00:59:51Z")
Something has been breaking into our (well, mostly my wife’s) garden. It ate what was going to be the first tomato of the season. Assumption is a rabbit, since [LIST=A] [li]There are a lot of them around[/li][li]the fencing was up and the tomato in question was too far in to be reached by a deer (of which there are also a lot) without knocking it down [/li][/LIST] So tantrum was pitched, imprecations against bunnies uttered, requests for me to figure out how to rabbit proof the garden made (up to and including land mines that could blow their not so lucky feet off). The fencing in question is about 5 feet tall, and plastic chicken wire looking, with about 1-inch squares. Last night, I am called to the garden because she thinks a bird is tangled in the fence. Turns out to be a little baby/toddler bunny. “Kill the wabbit” becomes “save the bunny” (those little suckers are cute). Don gloves, grasp the little fellow. He screams loudly - that is an impressive sound. Freed his leg, but he was still stuck somehow I couldn’t see. Wife gets a scissors, I cut him free of the fence, and see he somehow stuck his head into a fence square. I couldn’t hold him and cut that safely, so my wife had to. Put the little fellow down (outside the fence) and he scampered off, apparently no worse for the wear. We think we saw mom/dad leave with him. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-the-rabbit-or-not/817760/2 "2018-07-12T01:04:56Z")
Kill them with extreme prejudice but be careful with dynamite. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/2rg1w88ekqw/hqdefault.jpg "Married With Children - Vegetable Garden") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rg1w88ekqw) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-the-rabbit-or-not/817760/3 "2018-07-12T01:13:12Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Kill them with extreme prejudice but be careful with dynamite. > > [https://youtu.be/2rg1w88ekqw](https://youtu.be/2rg1w88ekqw) Not the [exploding whale](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBgThvB_IDQ). Am disappoint. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-the-rabbit-or-not/817760/4 "2018-07-12T01:23:15Z")
With your spear and your magic helmet. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-the-rabbit-or-not/817760/5 "2018-07-12T01:30:56Z")
Adorable cute little _babbie wabbits_ will quickly be producing babies of their own. With alarming proficiency. There are humane traps. I prefer a 22 rifle, and a dead eye. I am usually on the side of all animals and I plant extra peas in the pea patch for deer, so at least I get my share. Rabbits and deer will clean you out in one good night. I have had deer eat my rose bushes down to sticks ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-the-rabbit-or-not/817760/6 "2018-07-12T01:38:33Z")
Are you sure it isn’t an [enchanted woman/mockingbird](https://www.apex-magazine.com/the-tomato-thief/)? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-the-rabbit-or-not/817760/7 "2018-07-12T01:54:09Z")
Go watch the “Peter Rabbit” movie for extermination tips. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-the-rabbit-or-not/817760/8 "2018-07-12T04:44:20Z")
Not even an Illudium Pu-36 Explosive Space Modulator is enough to kill a rabbit. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-the-rabbit-or-not/817760/9 "2018-07-12T04:52:05Z")
Do you have raccoons in your area? I used to live in a place where the 'coons would make overnight beelines for my newly ripened tomatoes, before I could get to them. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-the-rabbit-or-not/817760/10 "2018-07-12T06:13:02Z")
Went out today and found the first tomato just turning red, and then look on the other side and it’s half eaten. :mad: > [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I prefer a 22 rifle, and a dead eye. That was my “go-to” as well. But believe it or not, I’m even more deadly with just a measly BB gun! And ammo is cheaper and no report to alarm the neighbors at 7am. I was skeptical at first, but, damn, that thing takes them out! Still need the .22 for Jacks, but the _Destroyers of Gardens_ are driven before me (to the lamentations of their women) with just a lil old BB gun. Last week was especially good. 😉 Oh, and Since it’s quiet, you get to hear the hollow, wet “Pop” when you score a hit! ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-the-rabbit-or-not/817760/11 "2018-07-12T06:23:07Z")
Gato, ew! Don’t want to hear that pop. I have no neighbors. And…I make Mr.Wrekker pick up the dead bodies. Just ew. I don’t mind rabbit murder but dealing with those poor dead bodies is more than I can do. And I damn sure ain’t cooking them! ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-the-rabbit-or-not/817760/12 "2018-07-12T09:24:54Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Gato, ew! Don’t want to hear that pop. I have no neighbors. And…I make Mr.Wrekker pick up the dead bodies. Just ew. I don’t mind rabbit murder but dealing with those poor dead bodies is more than I can do. And I damn sure ain’t cooking them! Why not just get a protective dog? ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-the-rabbit-or-not/817760/13 "2018-07-12T12:40:34Z")
We have problems with squirrels. I use [window screening](https://www.homedepot.com/b/Doors-Windows-Screens-Tools-Accessories-Rolls-of-Screen/N-5yc1vZbch7) as fencing material. It’s lightweight, easy to cut and critters can’t stick their heads, legs, or mouths through it. ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-the-rabbit-or-not/817760/14 "2018-07-12T13:00:50Z")
I have two tomato plants in pots - one on the front deck, and one on the back. Something was picking and partially eating tomatoes in the night. I set up a game camera to find out what it was, and discovered a rat raiding my plants. I set out rat traps last night, and nailed one. I’m thinking it was just one rat doing both plants. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-the-rabbit-or-not/817760/15 "2018-07-12T13:03:39Z")
Yesterday, my dobe [Victor](https://flic.kr/p/WoQ9Ys) brought me a sweet little bunny the size of a baseball. He was very sad, as apparently the batteries had run out. I couldn’t fix it, but gave it a very respectful send-off in the garbage can. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-the-rabbit-or-not/817760/16 "2018-07-12T13:17:33Z")
Kill the wabbit, kill the wabbit! ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-the-rabbit-or-not/817760/17 "2018-07-12T14:52:27Z")
> [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > Something was picking and partially eating tomatoes in the night. I like how they (whoever) takes _one bite_ from each tomato (or strawberry), then moves on to the next, wrecking them all. :rolleyes: Nope. I got no problem dispatching these bastards. Buzzards and worms gotta eat, too. ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-the-rabbit-or-not/817760/18 "2018-07-12T15:05:45Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I like how they (whoever) takes _one bite_ from each tomato (or strawberry), then moves on to the next, wrecking them all. :rolleyes: > > Nope. I got no problem dispatching these bastards. Buzzards and worms gotta eat, too. Yeah. The rat-bastard that I nailed last night ruined three almost ripe tomatoes before it went for the peanut butter in the trap. It’s worm food now. ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-the-rabbit-or-not/817760/19 "2018-07-12T16:32:36Z")
Just be certain its an ordinary rabbit. If not…[Holy Grail: Run Away! - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92gP2J0CUjc) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-the-rabbit-or-not/817760/20 "2018-07-12T16:56:43Z")
**Mind’s Eye** , there is never any such thing as just one rat. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-the-rabbit-or-not/817760.md?page=2)