I HAD NO IDEA, none, that rabbits eat milkweed leaves. But, looking out the kitchen window toward my mess of plants, I saw two young rabbits, one feasting on milkweed. The bunny stood, grabbed a fat leaf and devoured it in less than a minute.
Alright then. Naughty bunny!
This feasting came as a surprise, although I wondered why several milkweeds appeared partially eaten with one even snapped and dead. Now I’ve seen firsthand who’s been dining in my yard.
I would prefer the rabbits leave the milkweeds for their intended purpose—as a host plant for monarchs to lay their eggs and as the sole source of food for monarch caterpillars. But no adolescent bunny is going to listen to me.
My eldest daughter has battled rabbits for years at her south metro home. They eat the flowers in her front yard like it’s Mr. McGregor’s garden. And they are even so brazen as to hop up the steep back deck steps and nibble on potted flowers. Naughty bunnies! She certainly has a rabbit problem and definitely dislikes cottontails. I’m not at that level. I still think rabbits are mostly cute.
Despite this unwelcome feeding on the many milkweed plants that grow randomly and prolifically on my property, I have no intention of chasing away the rabbits. I mean, they do have to eat and I have not provided them with any tempting options like petunias.
Plus, they are fun to watch when they’re little and cute.
TELL ME: How do you feel about rabbits? Are they an issue for you?
© Copyright 2026 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Ha! Welcome to the wonderful world of hungry (but cute!) rabbits. Last year they ate great swaths of The LovedOne’s garden. She found herself caught on the horns of the “so cute” vs “I want them dead” dilemma. I offered solutions involving firearms and rabbit stew recipes (just kidding!) but cute won out. We bought a lot of chicken wire fencing instead. This year, they’ve only been able to nibble on the milkweed growing wild outside our fencing. Call it a temporary truce.
That’s the same strategy my daughter has taken. Chicken wire fencing.
I’ve heard rabbits are more in abundance this year. We don’t have a problem with them…just a couple cute ones once in a while, and they have left my one milkweed plant alone so far. 😉
Yes, I’ve definitely noticed more rabbits. I’m glad they are leaving your solo milkweed plant alone.
Oh, the bunnies! We have had to chicken wire the bottoms of our baby trees. Otherwise, naw naw munch munch. We try to let them have their share and space in the yard along with the possums. We grow a lot of native berries for the birds, and they have their nesting/drinking/bathing spaces too. I actually need to install another bird bath since it becomes a fight over it at times – ha! Fun facts – bunnies eat weeds which helps with pest control and their poo poo adds nitrogen to the yard. They are a keystone species too. They are cute and create chaos at the same time. Happy Day – ENJOY 🙂
I love reading about everything in your yard, how you embrace and foster nature. Birds, bunnies and possums, oh, my!
Besides having a patch of wild milkweed you can add peanut grass that produces yellow flowers and the bunnies go yum, yum, yum. Give them their share and leave your share alone hopefully.
I’ve never heard of peanut grass, but I’ll check into it. Thanks for the tip.
We’ve had them nest under our porch for many years. Used to trap them and take them across the creek to hopefully stay away from our garden. But now we let them be. They make good entertainment for our cat now. 🙂
We’ve not done the trap and relocate, but have observed someone doing that in the park just up the hill from our house. We didn’t care for the release into our neighborhood.
We love rabbits and they do eat plants, creating a conundrum for sure….
They are fun to watch. But, yes, a conundrum.
I think bunnies are cute. But I also know what pests they can be. One product that seems to repel them and the deer from eating all my plants is a product called Milorganite. My neighbor told me about this; she works at Ace Hardware and is familiar with many garden products. Milorganite is said to be environmentally friendly and safe. It has an unpleasant smell when applied. Be sure to do research before trying to make sure it fits your needs and saves your plants.
Thanks for sharing about that product, Rose. I’ll tell my daughter.
I love bunnies, of course! Each one reminds me of my mom so I guess I would welcome any to my yard. My “eaters” are the deer—- no stopping them! I try to coexist with them and take it in stride when they chow down on supposedly deer resistant plants. 😊
Ah, yes, your mom collected bunny figurines, right? I rather like rabbits also as my high school mascot was a white rabbit.
I love all the creatures. I was just born that way. Luckily for me, my husband is the same way. 🥰
Being on the same page with rabbits is definitely a good thing.