How to Catch a Rabbit in Your Backyard

Rabbits may be fun to spot in your yard and cute to look at, but when they take up residence -- and start eating your plants and digging in your garden -- they can be an irritant, or worse. Some people simply shoot pest rabbits, but this is not always the best course of action. Trapping them and moving them elsewhere is more humane, and easier for more people to do with success. Catching a rabbit in your yard is easy with the right equipment and a bit of patience.

Things You'll Need

  • Cage trap
  • Bait
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Instructions

    • 1

      Select a cage trap that is 24 inches long, 7 inches wide, and 7 inches tall. This is big enough for most yard rabbits without being too large to manage.

    • 2

      Watch the rabbits in the backyard to get a sense of their habits and routines. Look for plants they like to eat, or places they often go. While the bait you use will be enough to attract them, it is best to place the cage trap in high-traffic areas.

    • 3

      Scatter bait in the area you plan to trap. Rabbits eat a variety of foods, though apples, cabbage, lettuce and yellow corn work well. Keep the area baited for 24 to 48 hours before you set up your trap. This ensures that rabbits become aware of the treats.

    • 4

      Attach the trap door to the top of the trap via the steel hook that comes rigged on the trap.

    • 5

      Set bait just in front of the trap, as well as behind the pan in the back of the cage trap. You want the rabbit to step in the pan and spring the trap as it goes for the bait.

    • 6

      Check for a trapped rabbit at least once every 24 hours, preferably in the mornings or at dusk.