Rabbit problem....hope you can help me

23rd February 2007, 06:22 PM

Hi-

I'm hoping that you can help, either directly or otherwise.

I've got a problem with my Thunderchild. A rabbit ate the bark around the complete caliper about 10" high.....approximately
a foot above grade....15 days ago. Since then, I have installed metal lath, 3' high around the tree...loosely fit to lower as the snow melts. At least no more damage can be done. I've lived at this location for 5 years and this is the first time that this has happened....tough winter.

The caliper is 2.75" and I planted this tree 2 years ago and it looks good with selective pruning.

This is classified as Zone 3A.

What can I do ? I hope there's some way to save this beautiful young tree.

Or, perhaps you can refer me to someone who can help.

Thanking you in advance,

David Belland
Edmonton, AB
Canada

Ekka · 23rd February 2007, 06:41 PM

If the bark is eaten the complete circumference then that's the equivalent of ring barking a tree.

How wide a section did the rabbit gnaw? Like the gap between the top bark and the bottom bark?

Any chance of pics.

The metal protector is a good idea, same with say mesh around the tree but a bit away from the trunk.

Must be darn hungry that rabbit.

Munkee feet · 27th February 2007, 01:07 PM

Hello Mr. David...welcome to tree world. I would be eating that rabbit!! If he/she ate thru the phloem and the cambium...the tree is done and will dye...if not the tree will heal itself in year or so. I have seen trees wrapped in burlap and then plastic to protect it further problems...good luck sir. Munkee feet

Mike Poor · 1st March 2007, 10:54 AM

To protect trees in the future place human hair under bark wrap (rabbits despise the smell.) Stop by your local hair stylist's shop....they'll be glad to get rid of it! (no research on this one, just heresay!)

yooper · 5th March 2007, 05:15 PM

I use hair in my garden for both rabbits and deer,not sure if it works, to much other witch craft going on there also.but all combined i havent had a problem. I also throw bar soap around the paremeter,which i shred up with a manual cheeze shredder,(wife wont let me use the food procceser any more it kinda made a mess and made every thing tast like irish spring.) I do that about once a month. I also make a mixture of about 1 liters water, an egg, and 1 liter hot pepper juice.(i eat alot of jalapino so i use the juice from them, hotter the better im sure) be advised this is all witchcraft!

If all else fails i do resort to lead poisining with the trusty 12 gage shot gun.
although a snair made with picture wire is just as effective if looped in the main path of the rabbit.
Bunnys are tasty cooked in a red sauce served with a side of palenta, and some fresh greens.
please check local laws befor tryen the dinner plan though.

Juno · 8th March 2007, 06:35 AM

Here in Holland whe have some rabbits to.
we have a little machine that gives an electronic shock.
It's really simple just a little wire en if the rabbit takes it he will
be gone for a long long time.
And it doesn't kill the rabbit and we people don't even notis it

Ekka · 8th March 2007, 01:37 PM

I wonder what happens when a dog pees on the tree.

Brother Colin · 8th March 2007, 09:43 PM

Something like that anyway.....

Juno · 9th March 2007, 12:31 AM

I think he never pees on that tree again. lol

yooper · 9th March 2007, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Juno

I think he never pees on that tree again. lol

Back when i was a kid my Dad made a contraption with a car coil and a copper rod. Conected it to a 12 volt battery and wammo no more fido piss in the rose bushes! We never did see the dog get zapped but it did grawl every time it passed the spot where the trap was set for many years after.
A few years ago I asked him if he still had the contraption and he gave it to me. I wanted to try it out in my corn patch in the garden. Hoping the deer that was enjoying the corn every night might brush against it. Well the deer did and it must have done a back flip upon getting zapped and roll several times because several corn stalks the leingth of a deer where smashed right to the ground. needless to say was a bad idea in the garden.
I might have to bring it out again. My kids keep trying to pee happy faces in the snow bank in my driveway.....maybe i better not

Juno · 9th March 2007, 07:35 AM

Oke then your right. You should better not do that.

And nobody said anything about kids our dogs.

JayD · 14th March 2007, 03:54 PM

Hi David,
Sorry to hear about your problem caused by the pesky wabbit,OK by the sounds of it you have shut the gate,with your barrier,but now you have to address the the ringbarking,otherwise the tree is domed,time is the essence,if nothing is done to the tree it will die! so your chance in sucessfully doing what I suggest has about a 40-50% chance of saving your tree,but if nothing is done death of the tree is vertually garanteed,so you could try bridge grafting, this when you cut small finger sized branches from the tree or a heathy tree of the same ,Genus species...same type,you actually bridge the gap caused by the rabbit so the tree can go about its business of survival,its worth a try,but there's a little mucking around,you have to weight it all up as to if its worth it?so if you want to give it a go I will post simple instructions and a couple of drawings to help you give this technique a go.
Maybe this will help?
JayD

23rd February 2007, 06:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
david Posts: n/a	Rabbit problem....hope you can help me Hi- I'm hoping that you can help, either directly or otherwise. I've got a problem with my Thunderchild. A rabbit ate the bark around the complete caliper about 10" high.....approximately a foot above grade....15 days ago. Since then, I have installed metal lath, 3' high around the tree...loosely fit to lower as the snow melts. At least no more damage can be done. I've lived at this location for 5 years and this is the first time that this has happened....tough winter. The caliper is 2.75" and I planted this tree 2 years ago and it looks good with selective pruning. This is classified as Zone 3A. What can I do ? I hope there's some way to save this beautiful young tree. Or, perhaps you can refer me to someone who can help. Thanking you in advance, David Belland Edmonton, AB Canada Last edited by david : 23rd February 2007 at 06:23 PM. Reason: sentence structure

23rd February 2007, 06:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,847	If the bark is eaten the complete circumference then that's the equivalent of ring barking a tree. How wide a section did the rabbit gnaw? Like the gap between the top bark and the bottom bark? Any chance of pics. The metal protector is a good idea, same with say mesh around the tree but a bit away from the trunk. Must be darn hungry that rabbit. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding and Stump Removal Brisbane Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations, Developer, Tree and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

8th March 2007, 01:37 PM	#7 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,847	I wonder what happens when a dog pees on the tree. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding and Stump Removal Brisbane Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations, Developer, Tree and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

8th March 2007, 09:43 PM	#8 (permalink)
Brother Colin Sappling Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 48	Something like that anyway..... __________________ A new site for digital madia storage goto : http://brothercolin.pictureyourbusiness.com/

14th March 2007, 03:54 PM	#12 (permalink)
JayD Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sydney Posts: 931	Rabbit ring barks tree?? Hi David, Sorry to hear about your problem caused by the pesky wabbit,OK by the sounds of it you have shut the gate,with your barrier,but now you have to address the the ringbarking,otherwise the tree is domed,time is the essence,if nothing is done to the tree it will die! so your chance in sucessfully doing what I suggest has about a 40-50% chance of saving your tree,but if nothing is done death of the tree is vertually garanteed,so you could try bridge grafting, this when you cut small finger sized branches from the tree or a heathy tree of the same ,Genus species...same type,you actually bridge the gap caused by the rabbit so the tree can go about its business of survival,its worth a try,but there's a little mucking around,you have to weight it all up as to if its worth it?so if you want to give it a go I will post simple instructions and a couple of drawings to help you give this technique a go. Maybe this will help? JayD

27th February 2007, 01:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
Munkee feet Sappling Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 6	Hello Mr. David...welcome to tree world. I would be eating that rabbit!! If he/she ate thru the phloem and the cambium...the tree is done and will dye...if not the tree will heal itself in year or so. I have seen trees wrapped in burlap and then plastic to protect it further problems...good luck sir. Munkee feet

1st March 2007, 10:54 AM	#4 (permalink)
Mike Poor Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Urbana, IL,usa Posts: 76	To protect trees in the future place human hair under bark wrap (rabbits despise the smell.) Stop by your local hair stylist's shop....they'll be glad to get rid of it! (no research on this one, just heresay!)

5th March 2007, 05:15 PM	#5 (permalink)
yooper Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Upper Michigan U.S.A. Posts: 73	I use hair in my garden for both rabbits and deer,not sure if it works, to much other witch craft going on there also.but all combined i havent had a problem. I also throw bar soap around the paremeter,which i shred up with a manual cheeze shredder,(wife wont let me use the food procceser any more it kinda made a mess and made every thing tast like irish spring.) I do that about once a month. I also make a mixture of about 1 liters water, an egg, and 1 liter hot pepper juice.(i eat alot of jalapino so i use the juice from them, hotter the better im sure) be advised this is all witchcraft! If all else fails i do resort to lead poisining with the trusty 12 gage shot gun. although a snair made with picture wire is just as effective if looped in the main path of the rabbit. Bunnys are tasty cooked in a red sauce served with a side of palenta, and some fresh greens. please check local laws befor tryen the dinner plan though.

8th March 2007, 06:35 AM	#6 (permalink)
Juno Sappling Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 29	Here in Holland whe have some rabbits to. we have a little machine that gives an electronic shock. It's really simple just a little wire en if the rabbit takes it he will be gone for a long long time. And it doesn't kill the rabbit and we people don't even notis it

9th March 2007, 12:31 AM	#9 (permalink)
Juno Sappling Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 29	I think he never pees on that tree again. lol

9th March 2007, 07:35 AM	#11 (permalink)
Juno Sappling Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 29	Oke then your right. You should better not do that. And nobody said anything about kids our dogs.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode