Exclusion is most often accomplished by the construction of fences and gates around the area to be protected. Woven wire or poultry netting should exclude all hares from the area to be protected. To be effective, use wire mesh of less than 1 1/2 inches (3.8 cm), 30 to 36 inches (76 to 91 cm) high, with at least the bottom 6 inches (15 cm) buried below ground level. Regular poultry netting made of 20-gauge wire can provide protection for five to seven years or more.
Although the initial cost of fences appears high—about $1,000 per mile ($625/km)—they are economically feasible for protecting high-value crops and provide year-round protection on farms with a history of jackrabbit problems. Remember to spread the initial cost over the expected life of the fence when comparing fencing with other methods. Exclusion by fencing is desirable for small areas of high-value crops such as gardens but is usually impractical and too expensive for larger acreages of farmland.
Electric fencing has been found to exclude jackrabbits. Six strands spaced 3 inches (7.6 cm) apart alternating hot and ground wires should provide a deterrent to most hares. Modern energizers and high-tensile wire will minimize cost and maximize effectiveness.
The use of individual protectors (tree trunk guards) to protect the trunks of young trees or vines may also be considered a form of exclusion. Among the best of these are cylinders made from woven wire netting. These cylinders can be formed around trees with 12- to 18-inch wide (30.5- to 45.7-cm) strips of 1-inch (2.5-cm) mesh poultry netting. Cylinders should be anchored with lath or steel rods and braced away from the trunk to prevent rabbits from pressing them against the trees and gnawing through them.
Types of tree protectors commercially available include aluminum, nylon mesh wrapping, and treated jute cardboard. Aluminum foil, or even ordinary sacking, has been wrapped and tied around trees with effective results. Wrapping the bases of haystacks with 3-foot-high (0.9-m) poultry netting provides excellent protection.
Resources: (online)
Jackrabbits
