# There is a rabbit living in my carrot patch. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 5, 2013, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-rabbit-living-in-my-carrot-patch/646160 "2013-01-05T15:21:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-rabbit-living-in-my-carrot-patch/646160/1 "2013-01-05T15:21:50Z")
I have noticed a rabbit living in my carrot patch. It has been there for a few days now and doesn’t seem to be causing any trouble. I have so many carrots, I don’t really care if it eats a few (plus I have two separate beds with carrots), but I think that it’s not normal for a rabbit to just be huddled there for a few days. It has not moved from the spot where I first saw it on the 2nd. Today is the 5th. The weather has been bad for our area for several days now- about 43-45 degrees during the day and rainy. Also, it does not seem to be eating the carrot tops, which the neighbors pet rabbits love. I think it is a fairly young rabbit because many weeks ago I disturbed a nest of babies when I was turning over the compost bins. The bins are probably 50-60 feet away from the beds. Don’t they live in burrows? Should I run it off now or perhaps later when the weather improves? In the spirit of “pictures or it didn’t happen” here is a link to two close ups taken on different days: [Imgur: The magic of the Internet](http://imgur.com/a/x2MUf) And here are some pictures of our harvest on Jan 2, 2013 [Jan 2103 - Album on Imgur](http://imgur.com/a/Vv5Xo) ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-rabbit-living-in-my-carrot-patch/646160/2 "2013-01-05T15:28:54Z")
That may be his hidey-hole for hanging out when he’s not foraging. They usually are most active at dusk and dawn, then go hide for the day. It’s a great place for him, easy to get away from but very well hidden too. Does he bolt when you come near? If not, he may be sick or injured, and be hiding there to recuperate (or die). ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-rabbit-living-in-my-carrot-patch/646160/3 "2013-01-05T15:43:40Z")
I’d starting to look for carrot and rabbit recipes. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-rabbit-living-in-my-carrot-patch/646160/4 "2013-01-05T15:48:48Z")
> [@saje](#): > > That may be his hidey-hole for hanging out when he’s not foraging. They usually are most active at dusk and dawn, then go hide for the day. It’s a great place for him, easy to get away from but very well hidden too. > > Does he bolt when you come near? If not, he may be sick or injured, and be hiding there to recuperate (or die). No, it doesn’t bolt. It just sits there, and it let us get very close to it. Perhaps it thinks it is very well hidden. I guess it is very well hidden since the kids found it when we were picking carrots. They were parting the carrot tops and looking near the ground for the largest carrots. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-rabbit-living-in-my-carrot-patch/646160/5 "2013-01-05T15:55:15Z")
Tie a rope to one of the carrots, and run this taut line up to a large boulder or anvil that will hang from the cliff ledge high above the carrot patch. Your trap is now set. When that rascally rabbit pulls up the carrot, then the heavy weight will fall and end your problem. What could go wrong? ---
**Author:** ![Sevencl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sevencl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevencl)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-rabbit-living-in-my-carrot-patch/646160/6 "2013-01-05T16:36:03Z")
Call a local animal rehabilitation centre? They’ll know what to do (if anything), and might even come take care of it themselves. ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-rabbit-living-in-my-carrot-patch/646160/7 "2013-01-05T16:45:45Z")
Wild rabbits do not rehab well, they stress and die. It’s probably better left alone. He’s certainly got food available, and it may be this year’s juvenile just learning the ropes of living alone. He’ll either make it or he won’t, but unless he’s obviously very injured it’s really best to let Nature do her thing. ---
**Author:** ![Sevencl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sevencl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevencl)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-rabbit-living-in-my-carrot-patch/646160/8 "2013-01-05T17:01:38Z")
> [@saje](#): > > Wild rabbits do not rehab well, they stress and die. It’s probably better left alone. He’s certainly got food available, and it may be this year’s juvenile just learning the ropes of living alone. He’ll either make it or he won’t, but unless he’s obviously very injured it’s really best to let Nature do her thing. Shit. I hope it really is just living there. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-rabbit-living-in-my-carrot-patch/646160/9 "2013-01-05T17:14:13Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Tie a rope to one of the carrots, and run this taut line up to a large boulder or anvil that will hang from the cliff ledge high above the carrot patch. Your trap is now set. When that rascally rabbit pulls up the carrot, then the heavy weight will fall and end your problem. What could go wrong? Ha! With a name like Biotop, I’d think you would be pro-rabbit. And maybe you are… Hmmm… I must think this plan through… ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-rabbit-living-in-my-carrot-patch/646160/10 "2013-01-05T17:16:08Z")
I’m just going to leave it there. I have about 1,000 carrots, so I won’t miss a few. I just hope this rabbit doesn’t invite the whole, hop? Tribe? Clutch? ---
**Author:** ![Sevencl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sevencl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevencl)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-rabbit-living-in-my-carrot-patch/646160/11 "2013-01-05T17:20:19Z")
I’ve heard “bury” as a collective noun for rabbits. Don’t know if it’s accurate. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-rabbit-living-in-my-carrot-patch/646160/12 "2013-01-05T17:40:00Z")
rabbits are well camouflaged by fur. they often first freeze when sensing danger because running will cause them to be noticed and they may not out run what they see. they will nest above ground where grass and vegetation provide a visual cover. plant decorative flowers, they will preferentially eat those. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-rabbit-living-in-my-carrot-patch/646160/13 "2013-01-05T18:15:28Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > I’d starting to look for carrot and rabbit recipes. Just don’t try to make soup with the rabbit. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-rabbit-living-in-my-carrot-patch/646160/14 "2013-01-05T18:57:48Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Just don’t try to make soup with the rabbit. I agree, mine are terrible cooks. ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-rabbit-living-in-my-carrot-patch/646160/15 "2013-01-05T21:15:53Z")
Is it big enough to pull a sled? No? Then I am not interested ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-rabbit-living-in-my-carrot-patch/646160/16 "2013-01-05T21:23:49Z")
> [@Ca3799](#): > > I’m just going to leave it there. I have about 1,000 carrots, so I won’t miss a few. I just hope this rabbit doesn’t invite the whole, hop? Tribe? Clutch? Aye, there’s the rub. Provide a good home for one, and a few dozen may decide to set up shop, then before you know it you’ve gone from 1,000 carrots to a carrot deficit.\* I don’t think twice about discouraging rabbit invaders. Though I wish they were quieter. One time I grabbed a smallish one, and while I was carrying it to the front yard for relocation it screamed bloody murder. Awful noise. \*“There’s a carrot living in my rabbit patch!” ---
**Author:** ![Terraplane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Terraplane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terraplane)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-rabbit-living-in-my-carrot-patch/646160/17 "2013-01-05T21:29:58Z")
> [@Ca3799](#): > > And maybe you are… Hmmm… I must think this plan through… If you’re not sure, just follow the instructions in the ACME catalog. They’re the experts, what could go wrong? ---
**Author:** ![Sevencl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sevencl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevencl)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-rabbit-living-in-my-carrot-patch/646160/18 "2013-01-05T21:35:54Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Aye, there’s the rub. Provide a good home for one, and a few dozen may decide to set up shop, then before you know it you’ve gone from 1,000 carrots to a carrot deficit.\* > > I don’t think twice about discouraging rabbit invaders. Though I wish they were quieter. One time I grabbed a smallish one, and while I was carrying it to the front yard for relocation it screamed bloody murder. Awful noise. > > \*“There’s a carrot living in my rabbit patch!” I’d love to have bunnies living near me. Carrots are easily come by, how many people get to look out the window and see bunnies? ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-rabbit-living-in-my-carrot-patch/646160/19 "2013-01-05T21:43:48Z")
> [@Sevencl](#): > > I’d love to have bunnies living near me. Carrots are easily come by, how many people get to look out the window and see bunnies? People who live near natural areas. I see woodrats, gophers, brush rabbits, field mice, voles, squirrels, and chipmunks – and that’s just the rodents (yes, I know rabbits are lagomorphs, but they are rodents like tomatoes are vegetables). It is the reason I don’t have a vegetable garden any more. Rodents. You call them bunnies. We call them vermin. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-rabbit-living-in-my-carrot-patch/646160/20 "2013-01-05T21:46:57Z")
I have bunnies in my yard too. They have mowed down some of my perennials, but since most of my perennials are quite vigorous I don’t really mind. Live and let live. If you do decide you want to discourage the rabbit from eating certain things though, this stuff works well even though you have to reapply it when it rains: [Liquid Fence](http://www.amazon.com/Liquid-Fence-113-Repellent-Concentrate/dp/B000NW777E/) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-rabbit-living-in-my-carrot-patch/646160.md?page=2)