Do Wild Rabbits Eat Tomatoes?

If you have a vegetable garden, you might be worried about the local wildlife snacking on your hard work. A common question for gardeners is: will wild rabbits eat my tomatoes?

The short answer is yes, they will. But it’s a little more complicated than that.

Here is the truth about bunnies and tomato plants.

The Tomato Fruit vs. The Plant

This is the most important thing to know. Rabbits see the tomato fruit (the red part) very differently from the green plant itself.

More: Can Rabbits Eat Cantaloupe?

• The Fruit: Wild rabbits will happily eat a ripe tomato if they can reach it. It’s sweet, tasty, and full of water. It’s like a sugary treat for them.
• The Plant (Leaves and Stems): Smart rabbits usually avoid the green parts of the tomato plant. The leaves, vines, and stems contain a substance called solanine. This is toxic to rabbits.

Most wild rabbits instinctively know to stay away from the green vines. However, a very hungry or young rabbit might make a mistake and nibble on them, which can make them sick.

Read more: Can Rabbits Have Kiwi Skin, Seeds, Leaves, Barriers?

Why Do They Eat Them?

Wild rabbits generally prefer other things. Their favorite foods are grasses, clover, weeds, and tree bark.

So, why do they go for your tomatoes?

1. Opportunity: If your garden is easy to get into, they will take the free meal.
2. Thirst: In hot weather, rabbits look for foods with high water content. A juicy tomato is a great water source.
3. Scarcity: If their normal food sources (like wild grass) have dried up, they will become less picky and eat whatever is available.

Vegetable for Holland Lops Rabbits

How to Protect Your Tomatoes?

If you want to keep the bunnies away from your harvest, you need a barrier.

• Chicken Wire: This is the best solution. Put a fence around your garden beds. It needs to be at least 2 feet high.
• Bury the Fence: Rabbits are diggers. Try to bury the bottom of your fence a few inches underground so they can’t squeeze underneath.
• Remove Hiding Spots: Rabbits are nervous animals. If they have no place to hide near your garden (like tall brush or wood piles), they are less likely to come out and eat your veggies.

The Bottom Line

Wild rabbits generally prefer leafy greens and grass over tomatoes. But, if they are hungry or find an unprotected garden, they won’t hesitate to take a bite out of your low-hanging fruit.

Just remember: while the red tomato won’t hurt them, the green plant is actually poisonous!