Rabbits & Sunflower Seeds

Sunflower seeds placed in bird feeders may attract rabbits onto a lawn or garden. Rabbits will eat many types of flowers, herbs or vegetables grown in a garden. Wild rabbits also can carry tularemia, which can be transmitted to people and pets.

Significance

• Rabbits like sunflower seeds because they are higher in fat and carbohydrates than most any other type of food found in the wild. Pet rabbits also prefer sunflower seeds to many other types of food and then become fat because they cannot burn off the calories that the seeds give them.

Prevention

• Cleaning up spilled sunflower seeds or other types of bird food will remove a food source for the rabbits. Make sure garbage is in locked cans and not just sitting on the ground in bags, which also can attract hungry rabbits.

Expert Advice

• Bird feeders can be brought inside the home at night in order to reduce the chances of rabbits finding spilled sunflower seeds on the ground. Keeping the lawn mowed and keeping bushes trimmed will lessen the chance that the rabbit will find a place to nest on your property and cause more damage.