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Pestgon FactSheet
“
If they fly they die…if they crawl they fall”
RABBIT (Auduboni)
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Description:
The common rabbit, encountered by Pestgon, in southern California, is the
Desert Cottontail rabbit. (Sometimes known as the Western Cottontail) The
color of the adult desert cottontail rabbit varies from dark tan to gray,
with a yellowish tinge. Many have an orangish-brown throat patch. The underside
of the body is whitish. Though the tail is black above, it is rounded in
an obvious tuft of fur that looks like a cotton ball. So, the cottontail
rabbit comes by its unique name naturally. The length of a desert cottontail
is approximately 16 inches; it has big dark eyes set in a pale eye patch.
Its ears are large and can be up to 4 inches long. Cottontails are easily
recognized as their tails flash white when they make short hops. They seldom
weigh more than three pounds and females are larger than the males. Most
domestic (pet) "rabbits" are hares.
Biology:
In the commercial landscape environment, cottontail rabbits inhabit the brushy
or woody edges the property. They are almost exclusively vegetarian, feeding
on a wide variety of plants such as ornamental shrubs, grasses and tree bark
They generally get their water from the plants they eat. They are very prolific
so their numbers can add up fast. Cottontails are most active during the early
morning and evening hours.
Economic Impact:
Pestgon has observed that cottontail rabbits are extremely destructive to many
ornamentals and herbaceous plants and turf grasses. Uncontrolled, their numbers
can become very costly by devastating entire landscapes that contain certain
herbaceous plants. They are especially destructive to manicured lawns and turf
grasses. For obvious reasons, Pestgon recommends that they never be allowed to
develop to the point of an infestation on a commercial project.
Management Methods:
As with any pest problem, Pestgon always considers the first line of defense
to be prevention. An exclusion fence at least two feet high, at the perimeter
of commercial projects, where there is the natural brush, is one effective method
of rabbit prevention. Also, the use landscape plantings less susceptible to their
damage is another consideration. The use of live traps can be effective but is
a labor-intensive method of control and eradication because traps have to be
checked daily, and animals removed. It is certainly not an effective method when
rabbit populations are high. Use of repellent has shown limited success, however,
devices that use ultrasonic methods
have
proven to be totally ineffective.