Rabbits Eating Your Garden? Signs to Look for & Ways to Protect New Growth

You plant a row of healthy seedlings, check them the next morning and discover several have been clipped almost cleanly to the ground.

Young shrubs suddenly lose their newest shoots. Fresh lawn edges are grazed. Small round droppings begin appearing beside the vegetable garden.

Rabbits may be responsible.

Wild rabbits are a significant pest in New Zealand and can damage gardens, lawns, shelter belts, pasture and young plantings. Their impact is particularly noticeable where they repeatedly feed on fresh, tender growth.

Spring can be a frustrating time for gardeners because it provides exactly that.

Seedlings are being planted, lawns are growing again and fruit trees, shrubs and vegetables are producing soft new shoots.

The easiest rabbit problem to manage is one you identify early.

In this guide, Pestrol explains the signs of rabbit damage, how to work out where rabbits are entering your garden and the practical options available for protecting new growth.

Why Are Rabbits a Problem in New Zealand?

European rabbits are an introduced pest in New Zealand.

They are particularly well established in dry areas and can reproduce quickly when conditions are favourable.

Rabbits are herbivores, so their impact comes mainly from feeding on vegetation.

They can damage:

• Lawns
• Vegetable gardens
• Seedlings
• Young fruit trees
• Native plantings
• Shelter belts
• Pasture
• Ornamental gardens

They can also damage soil through burrowing and scraping.

For a home gardener, however, the first warning is often disappearing plants.

Why Spring Gardens Are So Attractive to Rabbits

Spring produces an abundance of soft, highly palatable growth.

Newly planted gardens may contain:

• Tender vegetable seedlings
• Fresh grass
• Young herbs
• New shoots on shrubs
• Flower seedlings
• Soft fruit-tree growth

Young plants are particularly vulnerable because a rabbit can remove a large percentage of the plant in only a few bites.

A mature shrub may tolerate some browsing.

A seedling with two or three leaves may not.

How Do You Know Rabbits Are Causing the Damage?

Several garden pests chew plants, so identification matters.

Rabbit damage often has a surprisingly neat appearance.

Look for:

• Young stems clipped off cleanly
• Angled cuts rather than ragged tears
• Plants disappearing suddenly overnight
• Low-growing foliage being removed
• Small round droppings
• Rabbit tracks
• Repeated grazing around lawn edges
• Gnawing on young bark
• Scrapes or digging
• Nearby burrow entrances

Look for the Clean Cut

One useful clue is the way a stem has been severed.

Rabbit incisors can leave a relatively clean, angled cut — often described as looking almost as though the stem has been clipped with a knife.

This is different from the irregular holes left by slugs, snails or caterpillars.

Rabbit Damage vs Slug or Caterpillar Damage

Damage	Possible Cause
Seedling cleanly clipped off	Rabbit
Large section of plant suddenly missing	Rabbit
Irregular holes plus slime trails	Slug or snail
Chewed leaves with caterpillar droppings	Caterpillar
Small round animal droppings beside damage	Rabbit likely

Do not choose a rabbit-control product until you are reasonably confident rabbits are actually responsible.

Look for Droppings

Rabbit droppings are usually small, round pellets.

You may find them:

• Beside damaged plants
• Along lawn edges
• Near fence gaps
• Beside sheds
• Along established animal paths

Clusters of droppings can help identify areas the rabbits use regularly.

Look for Established Rabbit Paths

Rabbits often take the easiest route between shelter and food.

Walk around the garden and look for:

• Flattened grass
• Small tracks through vegetation
• Gaps beneath fences
• Openings beside gates
• Routes underneath sheds
• Repeated feeding areas

Knowing where the rabbits enter can be more useful than knowing where they eventually stop to eat.

This is especially important when using exclusion or a motion-activated deterrent.

Check for Burrows and Scrapes

Wild rabbits may shelter in burrow systems, particularly on larger rural or lifestyle properties.

Possible signs include:

• Open holes in banks
• Freshly disturbed soil
• Tracks leading towards an entrance
• Droppings nearby
• Short grazed vegetation around the area

Do not assume every hole belongs to a rabbit.

Observe activity where practical before deciding what type of control is appropriate.

Which Plants Are Most Vulnerable?

Rabbits may eat a wide range of plants, but the softest new growth is often most vulnerable.

Pay particular attention to:

• Newly planted vegetables
• Young lettuce and leafy greens
• Beans and peas
• Flower seedlings
• Young herbs
• Fresh lawn growth
• Newly planted trees and shrubs
• Low fruit-tree shoots

The exact plants eaten will vary depending on what food is available locally.

Step 1: Protect Valuable Seedlings Physically

If you only need to protect one vegetable bed or a row of young plants, physical exclusion should be one of the first options to consider.

A suitable rabbit-resistant mesh or fence can prevent rabbits reaching the crop.

For best results:

• Use mesh small enough that rabbits cannot easily pass through
• Secure the bottom edge
• Close gaps around gates
• Check corners carefully
• Prevent rabbits simply pushing underneath
• Inspect the barrier regularly

The bottom of the barrier is particularly important.

A perfect fence with a large gap underneath will not protect the garden.

Protect Individual Young Trees

Young trees may also benefit from physical protection around the lower trunk.

Rabbit browsing can damage:

• Bark
• Low branches
• Fresh shoots

Use a suitable tree guard or protective mesh that does not constrict the trunk as the tree grows.

Check guards regularly and adjust them as required.

Step 2: Reduce Easy Access

Once you identify the route rabbits are using, see whether the entry point can simply be closed.

Check:

• Fence gaps
• Spaces below gates
• Broken mesh
• Openings beneath buildings
• Gaps between fencing and retaining walls

Blocking one established route may significantly reduce damage in a small residential garden.

Continue monitoring, because rabbits may investigate alternative access points.

Step 3: Use a Motion-Activated Rabbit Deterrent

Where rabbits are entering an open lawn, vegetable garden or orchard, a motion-activated animal repeller can provide another option.

The Pestrol 360 Elite Solar Animal & Bird Repeller is currently designed to help deter animals including rabbits, possums, cats, dogs and rats.

It uses:

• Three PIR motion sensors
• 360° horizontal detection
• Ultrasonic sound options
• Strobe lighting
• Solar power

For rabbits, the most important part of setup is placement.

Position the Sensor Where the Rabbits Actually Travel

Look for:

• Fence gaps
• Tracks
• Droppings
• Damaged plants
• Regular feeding areas

Place the unit so the rabbit is likely to move through the detection area before it reaches the plants you want to protect.

Do not hide the sensor behind dense vegetation.

Moving foliage directly in front of the PIR sensors can also cause unnecessary activation.

Directional or 360° Repeller?

If rabbits always enter through one known gate or fence gap, the Pestrol Elite Solar Animal & Bird Repeller can be aimed towards that specific route.

If the garden is open and rabbits may approach from several directions, the 360 Elite provides broader detection.

For rabbits, Pestrol currently advises that a lower sensor position is generally more useful than installing the unit well above the animal’s normal movement height.

Will a Rabbit Repeller Work Every Time?

Animal behaviour varies.

Deterrents may work particularly well when rabbits encounter the response consistently whenever they enter the protected area.

Results can be affected by:

• Alternative food sources
• Established feeding habits
• Sensor positioning
• Vegetation
• Property layout
• Other access routes

For persistent rabbit pressure, combine deterrence with physical exclusion or another appropriate control method.

Step 4: Live Capture for Targeted Rabbit Problems

Where physical capture is preferred, Pestrol currently carries several reusable live animal traps suitable for appropriately sized rabbits.

The Pestrol Live Animal Trap is a 66cm galvanised cage trap with an internal trip plate.

For a larger cage, the Pestrol Extra Large Live Animal Trap is 97cm long and has a double-ended design.

When using a live trap:

• Position it along a known animal pathway
• Keep the entrance and trigger mechanism clear
• Use appropriate bait
• Place the trap on stable ground
• Check it frequently
• Protect captured animals from excessive heat and severe weather

Live Capture Doesn’t Automatically Mean Release Somewhere Else

This is important.

Before trapping, moving, releasing or dispatching a wild rabbit, check the relevant New Zealand animal-welfare requirements and local pest-management rules.

Do not assume relocating a pest animal onto another property or into the wild is automatically appropriate or permitted.

Step 5: Controlled Rabbit Baiting

For repeated rabbit pressure on lifestyle blocks, farms and suitable larger properties, controlled baiting may be considered.

Pestrol’s current rabbit-control range includes Pindone Rabbit Pellets in 2kg, 10kg and 25kg sizes.

Pindone rabbit bait should be used strictly according to the current product label and applicable New Zealand requirements.

Where bait is used, a suitable bait station is recommended to:

• Protect bait from the weather
• Keep bait in a controlled location
• Help reduce access by non-target animals
• Make bait consumption easier to monitor

Multifeeder Rabbit Bait Station

The Multifeeder Rabbit Bait Station is designed specifically for rabbit baiting programmes and is recommended by Pestrol for use with Pindone Rabbit Pellets.

Place bait stations where rabbit activity is established rather than simply somewhere convenient for the person filling them.

Look for:

• Feeding routes
• Tracks
• Droppings
• Areas close to repeated damage

For Larger Programmes: Philproof Large Rabbit Bait Station

The Philproof Large Rabbit Bait Station is a heavier-duty option designed for larger-scale rabbit management.

It:

• Holds up to approximately 1.5kg of bait
• Is compatible with approved rabbit baits including Pindone pellets
• Uses UV-stabilised outdoor construction
• Helps shelter bait from weather
• Helps limit access by non-target animals

This type of system is more relevant to farms, lifestyle blocks, conservation work and larger rabbit-control programmes than to a small suburban vegetable garden.

Rabbit Bait Safety Is Essential

Rabbit bait is poison.

It should never be treated like an ordinary garden product.

When using any toxic bait:

• Read the full label before use
• Use an appropriate bait station
• Keep children and pets away
• Prevent access by non-target animals
• Use warning signage where required
• Store unused bait securely
• Follow disposal instructions
• Check regional requirements before starting a baiting programme

Do not scatter bait casually around a vegetable garden or areas where pets have unrestricted access.

Check Your Regional Council Requirements

Rabbit management rules can vary around New Zealand.

MPI notes that landowners are responsible for rabbit management on their properties and regional councils may have specific requirements under regional pest management plans.

For larger rabbit-control programmes, check with your regional or unitary council if you are uncertain about local obligations.

Which Rabbit-Control Method Is Right for Your Garden?

Rabbit Problem	Good Starting Point
A few seedlings being browsed	Physical mesh or garden barrier
Rabbits entering through one gap	Seal access + directional deterrent
Rabbits entering from several directions	360° motion repeller + exclusion
Individual rabbit regularly using one route	Live-capture trap where appropriate
Persistent lifestyle-block/rural rabbit pressure	Integrated control programme
Controlled baiting required	Pindone bait + suitable rabbit bait station

Don’t Rely on One Method for a Large Rabbit Problem

Rabbit populations can rebound quickly.

For heavier pressure, an integrated approach is usually more practical.

This may combine:

• Exclusion
• Repellers
• Habitat management
• Live trapping
• Controlled baiting
• Professional rabbit management where required

The correct combination depends on whether you are protecting a 10m² vegetable garden or managing a large rural property.

Reduce Shelter Close to Valuable Plantings

Rabbits prefer areas where they can quickly retreat from feeding sites to cover.

Where appropriate, tidy excessive shelter immediately around vulnerable garden areas.

This may include:

• Dense weeds
• Unused material piles
• Overgrown edges
• Debris beside sheds

Do not remove useful habitat indiscriminately; simply consider whether unnecessary clutter is giving rabbits convenient cover immediately beside the crop you are protecting.

Protect New Plantings First

If you cannot protect the entire garden at once, prioritise the plants least able to tolerate browsing.

These include:

• New vegetable seedlings
• Recently planted trees
• Young shrubs
• New native plantings
• Freshly established garden beds

Once woody plants become larger and more established, they may be better able to tolerate limited browsing than brand-new seedlings.

Don’t Forget the Lawn

Rabbits can repeatedly graze lawn areas, particularly close to shelter.

Signs may include:

• Very short patches
• Droppings
• Repeated dawn or evening sightings
• Tracks through the grass

If lawn grazing is the main issue, focus deterrents on the access route and feeding zone rather than placing them randomly around the property.

When Are Rabbits Most Likely to Be Seen?

Rabbits are commonly active around quieter periods of the day, including around dawn and dusk.

If you suspect rabbit damage but never see the animal, check the garden during these periods or look for tracks and droppings the following morning.

What If Damage Happens Overnight?

Inspect the plants closely before deciding rabbits are responsible.

Look for:

• Clean angled stem cuts
• Missing seedlings
• Droppings
• Tracks
• Fence gaps

If instead you find slime trails or irregular leaf holes, slugs and snails may be the more likely culprit.

Common Rabbit-Control Mistakes

Protecting the Plant but Leaving a Gap Under the Fence

Rabbits are low to the ground. Secure the bottom edge of barriers carefully.

Putting a Repeller Where Rabbits Never Walk

Find the access route first and position the sensor accordingly.

Assuming Every Missing Seedling Is Rabbit Damage

Check for slugs, snails and other pests as well.

Ignoring Droppings and Tracks

These can show you where rabbits are spending the most time.

Using Bait Without a Controlled Setup

Poison bait needs careful placement, secure storage and strict label compliance.

Assuming a Live-Captured Rabbit Can Simply Be Released Anywhere

Check relevant pest-management and animal-welfare requirements first.

Waiting Until Every Plant Is Damaged

Protect young growth as soon as rabbit activity becomes evident.

Spring Rabbit Protection Checklist

• Check new seedlings for clean angled cuts
• Look for rabbit droppings
• Inspect lawn edges and tracks
• Find gaps under fencing
• Look for likely access routes
• Check for nearby burrows or scrapes
• Protect young plants with suitable mesh
• Secure the bottom of garden barriers
• Protect young tree trunks where required
• Position repellers along established routes
• Keep PIR sensors clear of vegetation
• Check live traps frequently if used
• Follow NZ animal-welfare requirements
• Use rabbit poison only according to the label
• Use an appropriate bait station for controlled baiting
• Keep toxic bait away from children, pets and non-target animals
• Check local council requirements for larger rabbit-control programmes
• Continue monitoring new growth for fresh damage

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if rabbits are eating my garden?

Look for seedlings and young stems clipped off with a relatively clean angled cut, round droppings, tracks, grazed lawn and repeated low-level browsing.

Why are rabbits eating my seedlings?

Seedlings provide soft, tender new growth that can be particularly attractive to grazing rabbits. Small plants are also easily damaged because they have little foliage to spare.

How can I stop rabbits eating my vegetable garden?

Start with physical exclusion. Use suitable mesh or fencing, secure the lower edge and close access gaps. Motion-activated animal deterrents can provide an additional layer of protection.

Do ultrasonic rabbit repellers work?

Motion-activated repellers may help discourage rabbits from repeatedly entering an area, particularly when positioned along established travel routes. Results vary with animal behaviour, food pressure and site layout, so they are best combined with exclusion where possible.

Where should I position a rabbit repeller?

Position it where rabbits regularly enter or travel, such as a fence gap, established pathway or approach to a feeding area. For rabbits, a lower sensor position is generally more useful than mounting the sensor high above the ground.

Can I trap rabbits in New Zealand?

Live cage traps are available for appropriately sized rabbits, but users should check relevant New Zealand animal-welfare and local pest-management requirements before trapping, handling, relocating or dispatching captured animals.

Can I use Pindone pellets for rabbits?

Pestrol currently sells Pindone Rabbit Pellets for controlled rabbit baiting. They should be used strictly according to the current label and preferably with a suitable rabbit bait station to reduce access by non-target animals.

Why should rabbit poison be put in a bait station?

A suitable bait station helps protect bait from weather, keeps it in a controlled location and helps reduce access by pets and other non-target animals.

Are rabbits a pest in New Zealand?

Yes. European rabbits are an introduced agricultural and ecological pest in New Zealand and can damage pasture, native vegetation, soil and garden plantings.

Who is responsible for controlling rabbits?

Landowners are generally responsible for rabbit management on their property. Regional councils may also have rabbit-control requirements under regional pest management plans.

Protect New Growth Before Rabbits Make It a Regular Feeding Spot

Spring gardens are full of exactly what rabbits are looking for: fresh grass, seedlings and tender new shoots.

If plants suddenly disappear overnight, look closely at the evidence.

Clean angled cuts, rabbit droppings, tracks and repeated low-level grazing can help confirm what is causing the damage.

Then find the access route.

For a small vegetable garden, a correctly installed physical barrier may be all you need.

For open gardens and lawns, the Pestrol 360 Elite Solar Animal & Bird Repeller can provide motion-activated deterrence where rabbits approach from several directions.

If they use one predictable route, the directional Pestrol Elite Solar Animal & Bird Repeller may be easier to aim directly at the problem area.

For targeted physical capture, the Pestrol Live Animal Trap and Pestrol Extra Large Live Animal Trap provide reusable cage-trap options where appropriate.

On larger properties where a controlled baiting programme is required, Pestrol’s rabbit-control range includes Pindone Rabbit Pellets, the Multifeeder Rabbit Bait Station and the Philproof Large Rabbit Bait Station.

Always treat rabbit bait as poison, follow the product label exactly and protect children, pets and non-target animals.

The best result usually comes from matching the method to the size of the problem.

Protect the vulnerable plants first, block easy access, place deterrents where rabbits actually travel and escalate to trapping or controlled baiting only when the level of rabbit pressure justifies it.

Catch the problem while it is still a few clipped seedlings — not after rabbits have decided your whole garden is their new feeding ground.