Requirements for Rabbit Fences

Rabbits. While some might think they are cute and cuddly, they can be annoying backyard pests. Whether they consistently eat produce from your garden or send your dogs into a murderous frenzy every time they look into your backyard, a rabbit-proof fence can be a boon to your emotional well-being. Remember, rabbits can jump, dig and squeeze through small spaces, so building an effective rabbit-proof fence requires the proper materials and design.

  1. Materials

    • Traditional wooden slats or pickets would have to be very closely spaced to keep rabbits out of a protected area. This requirement would make the construction of a fence more expensive than you might want it to be. Therefore, the most important ingredient in your rabbit-proof fence is going to be the wire mesh. The mesh size should be smaller than 1 inch, because baby rabbits might try to get through it, too. Wire mesh can be combined with traditional wooden pickets or slats to create a fence that will hold rabbits out and look, at least from a distance, like a normal picket fence.

    Height of the Fence

    • For the best results, the wire mesh section of the fence should be 48 inches in height. Even the most athletic jack-rabbits will not be able to jump over it then. If you live in an area where jack-rabbits are not an issue, a 2-foot fence will suffice. Common cottontail and brush rabbits cannot jump over a 2-foot fence, but it is conceivable that in desperation they could scramble over one, so the more height you can add, the better. However, if it is a home garden that you are protecting, you have to keep in mind your own ability to access it. A 2-foot fence should be relatively easy for anyone to step over. Go much higher than that and you will probably have to build a gate for your garden.

    Bottom of the Fence

    • Rabbits can, and will, dig under your fence if you let them. The wire mesh component of your fence should be buried at least 6 to 10 inches in the ground. At 10 inches, even the most persistent and hungry rabbits will not burrow underneath it. If burying the fence is not an option for you, then you can flare it outward toward the bottom. Most rabbits will not dig for a large horizontal distance, so flaring the bottom will keep most, but not all, rabbits out. Flared fences should be staked down so that rabbits cannot simply slip underneath them.