Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo - Latest Comments on Bunnies Are Homebodies

lincoln park zoo [Member] in response to: Bunnies Are Homebodies

lincoln park zoo [Member] — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 18:53:21 +0000

Mani, Urban Wildlife Institute Director Seth Magle, Ph.D., says, "UWI is monitoring the biodiversity of wildlife throughout Chicago, not just at the zoo, and that includes rabbits! Motion-triggered cameras are used to assess hotspots of rabbit activity, and images from the cameras are studied to determine whether rabbits in different parts of the city have different behavioral patterns."

You can learn more about the Urban Wildlife Biodiversity Monitoring project at http://www.lpzoo.org/conservation-science/projects/urban-wildlife-biodiversity-monitoring

Mani [Visitor] in response to: Bunnies Are Homebodies

Mani [Visitor] — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 20:43:45 +0000

I was interested in your research because I remember one zoo visit during colder months where I remember seeing more rabbits hanging out in the exhibit areas than the actual animals that were supposed to be on display (they were hiding inside where it was warm).

I see rabbits all the time in my yard. Is there anyone studying the rabbits that are in Chicago (not just the zoo grounds)?

I've even seen them leaping across parking lots in the south loop.

lincoln park zoo [Member] in response to: Bunnies Are Homebodies

lincoln park zoo [Member] — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 20:28:16 +0000

Donna, we asked our expert gardeners, and they shared the following:

Some of the best flowering plants we have found to be rabbit-proof or virtually so:

Agastache foeniculum, anise hyssop
Amsonia tabernaemontana, blue star
Anemone hybrid, Japanese anemone
Asarum canadense, wild ginger
Bergenia cordifolia, pigsqueak
Bouteloua curtipendula, sideoats grama
Brunnera macrophylla, Siberian bugloss
Buddleia davidii, butterfly bush (can be invasive—‘Blue Chip’ is sterile)
Corylus cornuta, beaked hazelnut
Geranium maculatum, spotted geranium (an early bloomer)
Heuchera americana, coral bells
Hibiscus moscheutos, rose mallow
Lychnis chalcedonica, Maltese cross
Monarda fistulosa, wild bergamot
Narcissus spp., daffodils
Paeonia lactiflora, garden peony
Perovskia atriplicifolia, Russian sage
Phlox paniculata, summer phlox
Physocarpus opulifolius, ninebark
Polygonatum biflorum, Solomon’s seal
Rudbeckia laciniata, cutleaf coneflower
Schizachyrium scoparium, little bluestem
Scilla siberica, Siberian squill
Tiarella cordifolia, foamflower
Tradescantia ohiensis, bluejacket
Viola cucullata, blue marsh violet

Although non-flowering, most ferns also seem to be rabbit-resistant. Be sure to research these plant names before purchasing to see if they are appropriate for the conditions in your yard. Happy gardening!

Donna [Visitor] in response to: Bunnies Are Homebodies

Donna [Visitor] — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 22:45:40 +0000

I'd love to know what your gardeners have learned about which decorative plants and flowers are more rabbit-resistant. I seem to have a resident group that does a lot of damage--especially in early spring when the food supply seems to be more limited.

Ruth Fidino [Visitor] in response to: Bunnies Are Homebodies

Ruth Fidino [Visitor] — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 10:53:00 +0000

Looking forward to more on this study. BTW...I have seen lots of wood ducks since your story about them. Thanks!

Tessa [Visitor] in response to: Bunnies Are Homebodies

Tessa [Visitor] — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 20:49:41 +0000

Study is a great idea! I have a pet rabbit, and I always enjoy seeing the cottontail rabbits around the zoo. It seems to me there is at least one rabbit per other animal in each enclosure!