Tuesday, May 19, 2009

The Gadianton Bunnies

The bunnies are back.

Apparently, the foxes have not multiplied around here like they usually do, and the bunnies are overtaking the neighborhood in even bigger numbers than last year.

It sounds like it should be cute, right? It's not. It's just really not. Oh, the bunny-poo stories I could tell you. But I won't.

Last year, the bunnies ate all the new little shoots that were coming up in my front yard flower garden. So this year I read on some "green" (don't even get me started) website out there that chili powder would make them stop eating my plants. I bought the Costco size, and liberally sprinkled it all over the front yard.

Apparently some little green shoots go better with chili powder than others, or maybe some things are just worth burning your little bunny tongue over. I mean, it might have cut the amount of things they were eating by about half, but I got the feeling they were waiting for me to bring out something else. A little oregano, perhaps?

This year, the bunnies have found a hole in the fence, and have taken up residence in the backyard as well. They've found a little place under the deck where they can both torment the dog, and bring back their delicious chili seasoned treasures to save for later.

Sorta reminds me of a passage I read in the Book Of Mormon today:


And these Gadianton robbers, who were among the Lamanites, did infest the land, insomuch that the inhabitants thereof began to hide up their treasures in the earth


Which just tells you again, that the scriptures can be likened to our lives in all things. Even bunny infestations.

37 comments:

Lisa said...

Long time reader, first time commenter. Loved this! Made me chuckle--which I needed. May is a stressful month for me (for most).

I enjoy your blog a great deal. Thanks for sharing a part of your world.

Lisa S.
(Texas Panhandle, Sunbeam teacher, bishop's wife...)

Amy Peterson said...

lol -- the Gadianton robbers!

Tay said...

Maybe Cayenne pepper would work better? Or setting bunny traps and eating them for dinner. Or having your boys have fun with pellet guns. So inhumane! :) But really - those are the only ideas I have for you. I feel so like that farmer guy in the Peter Rabbit stories.

RoeH said...

I love this. Your Gadianton bunnies are my Gadianton cockroaches. They LOVE poison intended for killing them. They love it so much, they reproduce more. Give them a nice sewer and a generous tempting amount of cockroach killer and they're set.

I'd rather have the cute little bunnies.

Barbaloot said...

How is it that they torture your dogs rather than the other way around? Maybe try putting hot sauce on the plants. I mean...sure, it might kill the plants, but I bet the bunnies would leave, too:)

LisAway said...

Oh dear, what does one do when surrounded by Gadianton robbers? Hmm. Try the "giving them wine" trick. Oh, wait. That's only if you're trying to escape. Which you're not. And hopefully it will never come to that.

Good luck!

Celeste said...

lol, That is so funny! You don't want to know what my hubby would do to get rid of your bunny problem.

Cole said...

Bunnies in the scriptures....Love it!

Salt H2O said...

Invest in a bb gun.

2 things will happen, you'll take care of the rabits and provide entertainment for your kids.

Dave said...

our neighbor gives 95% of the credit for his successful garden to our cat. perhaps the addition of a few hungry, outdoor kitties will help curb the problem

but if you have a sandbox, let me tell you there are tradeoffs

Unknown said...

Cayenne pepper worked for me, but I don't think I had rabbits to the degree you do. The cat sounds like a good idea. Good luck!

Jillybean said...

Instead of chili powder, maybe you could feed them some fudge instead. They would gain so much weight that they couldn't fit under the fence anymore.
Or does it just work that way for me?

Becky said...

So bunnies no longer fall in the cute category for you then?

That chili powder idea sounds good in theory - kind of like putting Tabasco sauce on your kid's thumb to stop thumb sucking. No one ever tells you that they might end up liking it.

. said...

After moving to Ogden, Utah after living in rural Pocatello, Idaho, my farmer grandpa decided to take matters into his own hands with the squirrels, as only a farm boy would do. Turns out the neighbors and the cops don't like people to use guns in neighborhoods. who knew? =)tempting, right?

mormonhermitmom said...

Wait a minute...maybe wine WOULD work. Set out some trays with a nice Merlot...Get the bunnies drunk enough you could catch them and release them in the wild before they wake up...let the coyotes take care of them naturally.

But then if they like chilies, maybe it should be beer and nachos.

Stacey said...

Gadianton robber bunnies. Love it!

I don't like rosemary..maybe they wouldn't like it either. :P

Vern said...

I didn't even need to read past the title, but I did anyway!

Paul said...

Okay, a couple of thoughts:

1) You could easily and humanely trap them. There are traps that you can buy for about $40 that just lock them in a cage when they go in to get food. Then you could take them and put them in someone else's yard (you'd want said someone else to A) live at least a mile away, and B) be someone for whom you don't particularly care - I'm just saying).

2) You could get a cat. I love dogs, but most of them are too stupid to get out of their own way. A cat could get just about anywhere, and can move with a little more stealth than a dog.

We have feral cats in our neighborhood. Now, I happen to really like cats, but Pax has allergies. I looked into getting rid of Pax; but then Nebraska got rid of that really cool law. So, no cats. But, I do feed all the feral cats in our neighborhood. And we bought a trap to catch them and have them fixed. Now, they just roam the area, and we and four or five of our neighbors leave our garages cracked in the winter for them.

A few summers ago, we had a frog plague in our neighborhood. Seriously, it was almost of Biblical proportions - frogs must breed like - well, like rabbits. Anyway, every summer, we'd see more frogs. Then the feral cats took care of the frogs.

I try not to think about how that process might have worked, by the way.

Lee said...

You're nice to try the "green" solution. Snakes eat bunnies right? That's natural too! :)

(yeah right, like I'd invest in a snake to eat bunnies)

Randi said...

That's it! Lee gets the bunnies in her yard for even suggesting the "s" word.

talitha said...

My father in law in Texas has the same problem--except with deer.

Anonymous said...

Oh, the images you can create with words! I can just imagine these ninja bunnies, cloaked in black, stealthily invading your garden in the middle of the night, snacking on all your produce.... I think I feel a Saturday morning cartoon coming on....

Good luck in your quest! (And by the by, fried rabbit is considered, by some, to be a delicacy!)

Super Happy Girl said...

Gadiaton bunnies! RUNNN!

It does sound cute. Maybe you could start a tour ($$) of your yard. Kids would pay ($$) to see baby bunnies!

Jessica G. said...

Gadianton bunnies...love it!
I like bunnies. Used to have one as teenager. Of course, he drove my mom crazy by eating her herb garden but at least he kept the weeds down.

Heather said...

I get it! All the "green" remedies I try in my garden never work either. Nothin better than a 5 gallon bucket o' chemicals to take care of the problem.

Unknown said...

My folks put bars of Irish Spring soap out in old pantyhose legs. I think it only works for deer though. Something about that good old Spring scent is supposed to drive the animals away. When we were teenagers my dad put a bounty out on rabbits and prairie dogs. Oh the fun I financed with my little brother's bb gun.

Good luck. If the folks have any more suggestions I'll let you know.

goddessdivine said...

Just as long as those bunnies don't start plotting murders......

Forget going green; that never works. I'd go for a pellet gun.

wenderful said...

We just bought 5 gadianton robbers of our own. Maybe we should've just come to your house. Would've saved us a couple of bucks.
They DO eat every green thing in sight.

beckers said...

well written!! :)

Yvonne said...

Nothing I love better than likening the scriptures--THIS IS A CLASSIC ; )

Good luck with the bunnies.

Carrie said...

I'm working at a living history ranch this summer and they said they use wolf or coyote urine to keep bunnies away. Not sure where you come across that. Not sure how they collect that....

Dave said...

guess what kind of headless present the cat left on my porch last night?

that's one secret combination that won't be formed around my house.

Melissa said...

I know it's not funny... I know it's not... we've dealt with rabbits before, but I am laughing at your comparison!! Darn those gadianton bunnies and there secret combinations!

Heidi said...

Oooh, I would be so tempted to get a gun! And, er, use it!

Earl and Vickie said...

fair is fair, if the bunnies eat the garden, you aught to be able to eat the bunnies.......

Anonymous said...

How would Daisy like a little kitty friend? That is the only "green" solution that might actually work. Love Earl and Vickie's comment.

Nancy Face said...

I just love how you likened all those evil bunnies to the Gadianton Robbers! HILARIOUS! :D