Has she planted all of the roses in the ground or are some in pots that can be moved/protected? I recently saw animal repellent pellets on sale in a gardening center, and they are supposed to keep dogs, cats, rabbits, deer, etc., out of the garden without harming the animals. Cats can also help keep rabbits at bay.

I didn't realize it was possible to obtain fox and coyote urine. Those are sophisticated weapons!

If they are in the ground, and there is no sign they were dug up, she may want to protect them by caging them or as jmac said use an animal repellent. I have found the product called RO-PEL to work well again the critters that eat roses. They are small roses now and she is loosing just a few each night, it is most likey rabbits. Are they eaten down to the ground? They are on own root so if there is a little cane left they may come back.

Hope your friend can catch what ever it is in the act so at least she knows what she is up against

guys it's rabbits, rabbits rabbits; every time I see posts like this I want to run screeching like a maniac! I hate rabbits with a passion! They will eat baby roses faster than a lettuce leaf! I promise you this! Nothing will be left of a baby band. Rabbits love baby roses-- I can't emphasize enough that baby roses are their favorite food! Even my young Lincoln, which wasn't a band was eaten-2/3rds of the entire bush was gone- before I discovered the small gap in my own fencing that the rabbit had gotten to. Immediately put those bands behind wire fencing of some sort. Rain washes away pellets, and I believe my neighbor tried the ropel etc. to no avail. Only wire mesh ever kept their roses safe.

thanks everyone -- she's now fenced ALL of them. Two nights ago she got about 50 cages up, and the next morning 4 more roses were gone -- but they were from the ones that weren't fenced yet. Then yesterday she caged the rest of them...so am hoping for a good report today. most of the ones eaten were eaten to the ground. what are the chances that they'll come back given the roots are still there? she's hoping... and serenashy -- she equals you w/ her hatred of rabbits.

None have touched my roses but perhaps I should start building cages.. In the meantime I'm letting my cats out at night to stand guard!

Cats will a great job chasing rabbits away, but they may treat you to rabbit head trophies from time to time. (I don't hate rabbits, but deterrence can save the garden.) If there are coyotes/foxes roaming your neighborhood, I'd probably keep my cat in at night. Otherwise the hunter may become the hunted.

I am glad your friend found the "thief" and was able to stop the damage. As far as the roses that have been eaten. IMO as they were young roses and planted not that long ago, it maybe questionable since they were eaten to the ground, but there is always an outside chance some if not all may come back. If it was me I would cage them and keep them there until the spring.

ooo-ooo definitely cage, cage, cage, MadisonGardener. Lucky for you you've got your kitty guardians, but sometimes when they're indoors during the day the rabbits can still get to the bands. My Eluane helps chase the rabbits but that poor Lincoln disappeared while we were asleep that one night. Sadly Eluane is too gentle. She only chases rabbits because she's trying to herd them, but the rabbits won't cooperate. Our backyard has no fence so she will always stop at the border. I wish she would eat! them instead.

Karl Bapst told the "lovely" story about his Pellet Gun that sometimes accidentally kills rabbits and how he substitutes his rabbits as "blood meal"; and lol! some screeched at that but I did my evilllll chuckle, hee-hee! I was also very delighted to see a neighborhood cat trot off with a baby bunny in my own front yard. Hurrrrrrray!

Sorry folks if I make everyone else screech at this. But boy do I hate rabbits! Still haven't run over them with my car yet; I always brake; now why in the world do I keep doing that? Hmmmmm, just kidding!