Can Rabbits Eat Marijuana Leaves? How To Protect Cannabis

Quick answer: Yes, rabbits can eat marijuana leaves, and young plants are the most at risk. If you have been asking “can rabbits eat weed,” the answer is the same: rabbits will clip tender cannabis seedlings and low leaves. The UC Statewide IPM Program says rabbits prefer succulent, green vegetation, and that a fence is the most effective long term way to protect plantings. A low chicken wire fence with 1 inch mesh keeps most rabbits out.

Why Rabbits Go After Cannabis

UC IPM says rabbits prefer to eat succulent, green vegetation, with grasses and herbaceous plants making up the bulk of their diet. Young cannabis seedlings and fresh transplants are soft, green and close to the ground, which puts them right in a rabbit’s reach.

Feeding usually begins during the evening and continues through the night into the early morning, according to UC IPM. That is why so many growers find plants clipped overnight with no animal in sight.

Signs of Rabbit Damage

• A clean, angled cut. UC IPM says rabbits use their incisors to make a characteristic diagonal, 45° cut, as if with a knife.
• Damage close to the ground. UC IPM puts the height rabbits can reach at about 2 feet.
• Round droppings. UC IPM says cottontail pellets are closer to 1/4 inch across, and jackrabbit pellets are up to 1/2 inch.
• Damage near cover. Cottontail and brush rabbit damage is often concentrated near escape cover, UC IPM says, and the brush rabbit seldom feeds more than a few feet from its cover.

Rabbits vs Other Garden Animals

UC IPM says damage above about 2 feet is likely from deer, and that deer leave a ragged break because they twist and pull when browsing. Rabbits, on the other hand, clip cleanly. For taller damage, see our guide to deer and cannabis gardens. Chewed stems or dug soil with no clean cut may point to rodents, covered in our guide to protecting weed plants from mice and rats.

Why a Fence Comes First

UC IPM says the most long term, effective way to protect plantings from rabbit damage is to build a fence. It also says frightening devices such as noisemakers, flashing lights and ultrasonic units generally are not effective. Unlike repellents, a fence does not need to be reapplied after rain.

How to Build a Rabbit Fence Around Cannabis

The two Extension sources give different specs, so pick the one that best fits your site. The University of Georgia option suits most home gardens with cottontails. The UC IPM option is taller and buried deeper for jackrabbits, diggers and snowy areas.

Garden option (University of Georgia Extension):

1. Choose 1 inch mesh. UGA Extension recommends a 2 foot high chicken wire fence with 1 inch hexagonal mesh openings.
2. Buy a 3 foot roll. UGA says to buy a 3 foot high roll and bend a 12 inch apron at the bottom.
3. Point the apron outward. Bend the apron toward the outside of the garden, as UGA describes, so rabbits that dig at the fence hit wire.
4. Bury the apron. UGA says to bury it several inches deep.
5. Close every gap. UC IPM says gates must be tight fitting with sills to prevent rabbits from digging underneath.

Taller option (UC IPM):

1. Use 48 inch wire. UC IPM says to use 48 inch tall wire with mesh no larger than 1 inch, to exclude young rabbits.
2. Bury the bottom. UC IPM says to bury the bottom at least 6 to 10 inches.
3. Bend the bottom outward. UC IPM says bending a few inches of the fence bottom outward will further deter rabbits from digging beneath it.
4. Stake it if you cannot bury it. UC IPM says to stake the bottom of the fence securely if it is not buried.
5. Go higher in snow and inspect often. UC IPM says a higher fence may be needed where snow builds up, and to inspect the fence regularly for gaps.

Before you plant cannabis outdoors, check your state’s home grow law.

Cages for Single Plants and Pots

1. Cut 1 inch mesh into strips. UC IPM describes poultry netting with 1 inch mesh, 18 to 24 inches wide, cut into strips 18 to 20 inches long and formed into cylinders for young trees and shrubs. The same cylinder idea works for a single cannabis seedling.
2. Bury the bottom. UC IPM says to bury the bottom of the cylinder 2 to 3 inches.
3. Brace it away from the plant. UC IPM says to brace cylinders away from the stem so rabbits cannot press against them.
4. Raise or swap the cage as the plant grows. Once a plant is taller than a rabbit can reach, about 2 feet, low leaves are the main thing left to protect.

Clear Hiding Spots Near the Garden

UC IPM says cottontails and brush rabbits live in places with dense cover, such as brush, piles of rocks or debris and wooded areas with underbrush. Clearing brush piles and debris near your plants removes the cover they hide in by day.

Repellents for Rabbits

UC IPM says chemical repellents such as putrescent egg solids can reduce or prevent rabbit damage. Apply them before damage occurs and reapply often, especially after rain, heavy dew or sprinkler irrigation, or when new growth appears. UC IPM also warns that most repellents cannot be used on plants or plant parts that people eat, and that they usually fail in vegetable gardens. Follow the product label, and check that any pesticide is allowed for cannabis in your state. Our guide to natural pest repellents for cannabis growers covers other options.

Troubleshooting

Plants are still clipped inside the fence. Look for gaps under gates and for digging at the base. UC IPM says gates should fit tightly with sills, and a buried or staked bottom stops rabbits from pushing under.

Rabbits jump over the fence. UC IPM says cottontails and brush rabbits will not jump a 2 foot fence, and jackrabbits ordinarily will not unless chased. If they still get over, raise the fence to 3 feet, as UC IPM suggests.

Damage is higher than 2 feet. UC IPM says that height is above where rabbits can reach. Look for ragged breaks that point to deer.

Stems are chewed higher up with no clean cut. Another animal may be the cause. Squirrels and chipmunks are covered in our guide to squirrels and chipmunks in cannabis gardens.

A repellent stopped working. UC IPM says repellents need frequent reapplication, especially after rain, dew or sprinklers and when new growth appears. Their usefulness is limited, so rely on a fence first.

Sources

• UC Statewide IPM Program, Pest Notes: Rabbits: https://ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/rabbits/
• University of Georgia Extension, Circular 1027-9, Garden Fencing (reviewed 2022): https://fieldreport.caes.uga.edu/publications/C1027-9/garden-fencing/