Bunnies bug Anchorage neighborhood gardens
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Some residents near Cheney Lake are at war with loose domestic rabbits that shear off broccoli plants, devour lilies and destroy perennials.
Dozens and maybe a hundred or more marauding rabbits run loose. On Friday, an Animal Care and Control Center officer gave notice to occupants of one house that they must pen up or fence in 35 rabbits the resident acknowledged taking care of - or face fines.
Some people are conflicted by the feral rabbits. They regard them as cute but don't want them in their gardens.
State Fish and Game biologist Rick Sinnott says the rabbits are not good for the environment. He says they can be an invasive species, competing with native snowshoe hares and passing on disease.
Trouble with letting your bunnies run loose is that it pretty well guarentees there will be an over-population of feral rabbits [unless enough local dog owners let their pooches run free too] and a poor return for the rabbit 'raiser'. I use that term loosely, because I'm not sure you could call turning a bunch of domestic livestock loose 'raising it'.
However, veg gardens and other plantings can be easily protected from domestic rabbits and wild hares. Sprinkle a thin trail of blood-meal around the perimeter of the garden or beds.
[Or catch and butcher a feral bunny for that hossenfeffer, and dribble the drained blood around perimeters. They are very easy to snare.]
Works like a charm!
You betcha...