Rabbits will munch on tomatoes. It doesn't seem to be a high preference for them but at times they will indeed munch.

They seem to like them only when ripe. But squirrels will eat them even when still green. One reason why many of us pick them early and let them finish ripening on the kitchen counter. ;)

Don't know if the dog hair will work but it might be worth a try. But they do make commercial garden rabbit repellents. Linked one below but Google "rabbit repellent" for links to many others.

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: Rabbit Repellent

While I am no fan of rodents in my garden I would like to point out that some of these products that contain fox, coyote, bobcat urine etc are the result of trapped animals living in putrid conditions. I have made a personal decision to not use these products.

Back in my early gardening days I tried a fox urine product and it didn't work worth a darn. I have since found that a hungry rabbit can only be stopped with a good fence or a rifle.

We have oodles of rabbits, too (Hassenpfeffer, anyone?!) We decided to put up a fence rather than take a chance on losing our tomatoes.

{{gwi:1297912}}

Taken from our deck looking down into the garden.

Unfortunately, our kittens are small enough to be able to climb the mesh without it tossing them backward from the weight. So our tomato patch is also their personal playground. Sheesh!!!

Next year we aren't going to make it so wide so we can reach in from either side without having to actually walk in it. But that mesh fence should last for several years, it's a really great investment. If you go that route, though, we did find out that you have to stretch it really really tight or it can sag and the wind blows it onto the plants and it can really beat them up. We came close to losing a couple plants the first few days, and they are still much smaller than the rest of the "jungle".

Thank you Bigdaddyj for pointing out the downside to these products. While no one wants to have their crops eaten, we should not be ignorant to the origin of our options. I consider myself a conserative amongst conservatives, but why choose one at the cost of another?

"trapped animals living in putrid conditions"

BD, I also want to thank you for pointing this out. Never thought about the source when reading about these products.

Thanks Bigdaddyj. I just purchased some fox urine from eBay a month or so ago. I hadn't thought about how they harvest it, and now I feel just awful! I certainly won't ever buy it again. Animal cruelty brings me to tears. Plus it didn't work for me. I have squirrels, rabbits, and skunks that frequent my yard, and the urine hasn't stopped any of them.

I'd be willing to guess that your problem is raccoons or opossums...2 of my first three ripening tomatoes had snout-sized holes in them, just like the ones i always get in my melons. I'm pretty sure the flat-faced rabbits couldn't make such a conical hole.

Dog hair hasn't worked for me, I have a shepherd-lab with an amazingly thick undercoat who sheds a couple dog's worth of hair, which i hopefully spread around...human hair doesn't work either (my daughter is a stylist).

I'd already planned to put electro net around my corn and melons, but don't think i can do the tomato patch too.. Other than trapping or fencing, i don't know of anything to discourage coons and possums....;~(

Has anyone mentioned mothballs. I've used them with some success. Have an apple tree in my backyard and so far the rabbits and squirrels have been directing all their attentions to them.