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Rabbit feeding may girdle and kill trees. Injury typically occurs while the trees are dormant and rabbit food sources are reduced.

Rabbit injury to tree base.

(Photo: John Strang, University of Kentucky)

Management:

• Destroy fallen fruit
• Keep area beneath trees bare or relatively vegetation-free during winter
• Maintain grassy areas and fence rows to eliminate over-winter cover and additional food sources
• Protect young trees with hardware cloth

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