Have you been fighting the battle with rabbits this summer? Well, I have! Calls into my office seem to indicate that bunnies have been wreaking havoc across Chicagoland! Here at the Ag School, it has been an all-out war. Here are a few tips to prepare you for combat.

Platoons of Rabbits

Did you know that rabbits have the capability to start breeding when they are only two months old? Big months for mating are April and May, but rabbits can mate all the way through September. The rabbit litter will average between 3-6 young and the gestation period is only 27-30 days. That's a lot of rabbits!

The Enemy's Dietary Needs

Vegetables like peas, lettuce, broccoli, carrots, and beans are favorites of these pesky creatures. In the spring, they really go for tulips! They also feed on other flowers like marigolds, carnations, and black-eyed Susan's.

Destroying Enemy Shelter

Rabbits really love areas of brush, weeds, and grass. Limiting those can drive them into your neighbors yard! Just kidding! Reducing these areas of prime rabbit habitats will help to limit the number of rabbits in your yard.

Spray Guns at the Ready!

There are several methods of control that you can use. Almost any type of garden center sells rabbit repellents and sprays. These may work for a short period of time, but will have to be applied often, especially after rains. Remember that new growth since the initial spraying is not protected. One of the sprays available to fight off the rabbits is hot pepper spray. You can make your own by mixing a two-ounce bottle of red pepper Tabasco sauce with a gallon of water. Don't spray it on something that's to be harvested unless you are ready for some fiery hot vegetables.

Bringing out the Big Guns

The most effective protection against rabbits is a chicken-wire fence. It may not look good, but it works. Here is what you do:

• Purchase a 3-ft high roll of chicken wire
• As you set up the fence, bend the bottom six inches outward at a 90° angle.
• Bury this under two inches of soil.

You want to make sure that you follow these steps because this will keep the rabbit from burrowing under the fence. The remaining 2 1/2 foot fence is high enough that even the strongest rabbits can't hop over. Since rabbits won't usually eat squash, tomatoes, or potatoes, they can be planted outside the boundaries of the fence.