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6 Best Deer And Rabbit Repellents of 2024

By Eugene WilliamsLast update: 2024-03-28

Growing a garden in the backyard has its pros and cons. One of the most irritating cons is that deer, rabbits, and other herbivores keep sneaking and stealing your crops.

And now, you might be wondering how to scare them away without killing them? A great solution is applying the best deer and rabbit repellent onto your plants, and here are the six top-rated picks on the market:

Here are the best deer and rabbit repellents you can buy in 2024:

  • Best For Flower Beds: Bonide Repels-All Animal Repellent Concentrate
  • Best For Vegetable Gardens: Plantskydd Animal Repellent
  • Best For Long-Lasting Protection: Safer Brand Concentrate 5972
  • Rain-Resistant: Liquid Fence Deer & Rabbit Repellent Concentrate
  • Snow Resistant: Everguard ADPR032
  • Highly Effective: Nature's Mace Deer & Rabbit Repellent
6 Best Deer And Rabbit Repellents
Best For Flower Beds
Bonide Repels-All Animal Repellent Concentrate
    Best For Vegetable Gardens
    Plantskydd Animal Repellent
      Best For Long-Lasting Protection
      Safer Brand Concentrate 5972
        Rain-Resistant
        Liquid Fence Deer & Rabbit Repellent Concentrate
          Snow Resistant
          Everguard ADPR032
            Highly Effective
            Nature's Mace Deer & Rabbit Repellent

              Best For Flower Beds: Bonide Repels-All Animal Repellent Concentrate

              Bonide Repels-All Animal Repellent Concentrate
              Bonide Repels-All Animal Repellent Concentrate
              Pros
              • Ideal for flower beds – pollinator-friendly & harmless to flowers
              • Optimal herbivore prevention - repelling in three ways: touch, odor, and taste
              • Safe to animals and plants – 100% natural ingredients
              Cons
              • Not water-resistant
              • Very stinky smell

              This all-natural animal repellent product is an effective yet humane way to prevent deer and rabbits without harming them and protect your plants.

              The way it works is using predators' side products, dried blood, and irritating-smell plants to trigger biologically and genetically ingrained fear in deer and rabbits.

              While many other repellants only affect herbivores through two ways - smell and taste, this product repels in three ways, composed of touch for optimal results.

              A notable thing is that despite the strong smell, it is very pollinator-friendly and safe for flowers. Plus, it lasts very long - up to two months per application.

              Bonide Repels-All Animal Repellent Concentrate Specifications

              Size

              32 Ounces

              Type

              Concentrate

              Active Ingredients/ Action

              Wintergreen, onion, fish oil, clove, whole egg solids, dried blood, and garlic

              Highlight Features

              pollinator-friendly & harmless to flowers

              repelling in three ways: touch, odor, and taste

              Verdict

              The Bonide Repels-All Animal Repellent Concentrate becomes an instant tester favorite this year thanks to its effective herbivore prevention yet pollinator-friendliness, making it ideal for flower beds.

              Best For Vegetable Gardens: Plantskydd Animal Repellent

              Plantskydd Animal Repellent
              Plantskydd Animal Repellent
              Pros
              • Perfect for vegetable gardens – Pollinator-Friendly & Safe on vegetables
              • Reliable - made in the US & OMRI-listed
              • Not have mulch odor – granular type
              Cons
              • Not for 2’+ high vegetation
              • Easily washed away after rains

              If you can't stand the terribly stinky odor of animal repellent liquid products, then this granular type might be a great alternative.

              The Plantskydd Animal Repellent is OMRI-listed, proudly made in the US, and proven tested to be safe on vegetables and pollinators.

              Dried blood is the one and sole ingredient of this product, which is easy to control what you're spraying on your plants. Thereout, it does not use any animal parts.

              This product is recommended for 2' high vegetation or under.

              Plantskydd Animal Repellent Specifications

              Size

              3.5 pounds

              Type

              Organic Granular

              Active Ingredients/ Action

              100% Dried Blood (Porcine and/or Bovine)

              Coverage

              1,750 square feet

              Highlight Features

              Pollinator-Friendly & Safe on vegetables

              made in the US & OMRI-listed

              granular type

              Verdict

              For protecting the vegetable garden from deer, rabbits, and other herbivores, the Plantskydd Animal Repellent can’t be beaten.

              Best For Long-Lasting Protection: Safer Brand Concentrate 5972

              Safer Brand Concentrate 5972
              Safer Brand Concentrate 5972
              Pros
              • Able to last up to 90 days per application
              • Huge coverage & bang for bucks – coverage of 4,000 square feet
              Cons
              • Smell horrible

              This natural animal repellent works based on taste and smell. It uses potent ingredients like dried garlic and putrescent egg - things that deer and rabbits hate the most to scare them away.

              But making the product stand out to us is its extra coverage and longevity.

              On average, 32-ounce animal repellent products cover only 320 to 500 square feet (such as Safer Brand's 5935 and 5981 versions), but this one can cover up to 4,000 square feet. Its longevity is 90 days (approximately three months) while other counterparts usually last 8 weeks as maximum.

              Overall, it is the best for the money.

              Safer Brand Concentrate 5972 Specifications

              Size

              32 oz.

              Type

              Concentrate

              Active Ingredients/ Action

              Garlic, capsaicin & related capsaicinoids, putrescent whole eggs solids, other ingredients.

              Coverage

              up to 4, 000 sq. Ft

              Highlight Features

              Able to last up to 90 days per application

              coverage of 4,000 square feet

              Verdict

              The Safer Brand Concentrate 5972 scored exceptionally high marks in longevity and coverage in our testing, which gives it a slot in this review list.

              Rain-Resistant: Liquid Fence Deer & Rabbit Repellent Concentrate

              Liquid Fence Deer & Rabbit Repellent Concentrate
              Liquid Fence Deer & Rabbit Repellent Concentrate
              Pros
              • Rain-resistant after the liquid already dries out
              • Not harm plants, animals, or human - scent- and taste-deterring formulas
              • Able to cover a large area – featuring 6,000-square-foot coverage
              Cons
              • Last only three weeks
              • A bit pricey

              Most animal repellents share one drawback in common - they hardly last after a rain or storm, which requires reapplying. If you live in a highly humid region or during the rainy season, this would be quite inconvenient.

              Don't worry, we have this option for you, the Liquid Fence Deer & Rabbit Repellent Concentrate.

              It is claimed to resist water after applying 5 or 6 hours on dry vegetation. About the smell, you might notice an odor after applying but once the liquid is completely dried, it's only pungent to herbivores.

              Liquid Fence Deer & Rabbit Repellent Concentrate Specifications

              Size

              40-Ounce

              Type

              Concentrate

              Active Ingredients/ Action

              Garlic, Putrescent egg solids, meat protein, & Urine from mammal predators

              Coverage

              6,000 sq. ft

              Highlight Features

              Rain-resistant, scent- and taste-deterring formulas

              6,000-square-foot coverage

              Verdict

              The Liquid Fence Deer & Rabbit Repellent Concentrate is ideal to be used in humid tropical climates or during rainy seasons as it’s rain-resistant.

              Snow Resistant: Everguard ADPR032

              Everguard ADPR032
              Everguard ADPR032
              Pros
              • Perfect for winter – a snow-resistant proven commercial formula
              • Safe to kids and pets – plant-based ingredients & no offensive odors
              • Convenient to apply - spray nozzle and easy-to-grasp bottle design
              Cons
              • Wish the bottle was more quality

              The Everguard ADPR032 distinguishes itself from the competition for its proven commercial formula that is snow-resistant and has no offensive odor to be safe for kids and pets.

              If you just want to scare deer and rabbits without harming any animals, this product is also for you, based on its 100% plant-based ingredients and no animal parts used.

              During our tests, it worked beautifully just as those repellents made of putrescent egg solids and lasted up to 8 weeks during the winter as advertised.

              We also appreciate the added spray nozzle and ergonomic bottle for easy grasp.

              Everguard ADPR032 Specifications

              Size

              32oz

              Type

              Spray

              Active Ingredients/ Action

              Garlic and cinnamon oils, clove, and thyme

              Coverage

              500 sq. Ft.

              Highlight Features

              snow-resistant proved commercial formula

              plant-based ingredients & no offensive odors

              spray nozzle and easy-to-grasp bottle design

              Verdict

              The Everguard ADPR032 is a snow-resistant deer and rabbit repellent product made of 100% plant-based ingredients. It’s proven-tested to last up to eight weeks per application during the winter.

              Highly Effective: Nature's Mace Deer & Rabbit Repellent

              Nature's Mace Deer & Rabbit Repellent
              Nature's Mace Deer & Rabbit Repellent
              Pros
              • Easy to transport – bottle design with a carrying handle
              • 400% more effective than other brands - university-backed formula
              • Safe for kids, plants, and animals - biodegradable ingredients
              Cons
              • Heavy & bulky
              • Wide bottle neck - Difficult to measure accurately in small batches

              Saving the best for last, the Nature's Mace Deer & Rabbit Repellent has been a longtime favorite of our testers.

              At 5 gallons, it covers a large area up to 28,000 square feet. The ergonomic bottle design with a carrying handle makes it easy to transport.

              But the best part is its university-backed formula - which is proven to be 400% more powerful than other brands yet still safe for kids, plants, and animals thanks to its biodegradable ingredients.

              Lastly, it can be used all seasons.

              Nature's Mace Deer & Rabbit Repellent Specifications

              Size

              1 Gallon

              Type

              Concentrate

              Active Ingredients/ Action

              potassium sorbate, sodium lairyl sylgate, mint oil, white pepper, garlic, & whole egg

              Coverage

              2 Acres (28,000 Sq Ft)

              Highlight Features

              bottle design with a carrying handle

              university-backed formula

              biodegradable ingredients

              Verdict

              Nature's Mace Deer & Rabbit Repellent is a highly effective product that we've found.

              How To Choose The Best Deer And Rabbit Repellent?

              The Way That The Product Keeps Deer And Rabbit At Bay

              All the deer and rabbit repellent products that we tested work by either of these two ways:

              • Relying on scents and pheromones of carnivores
              • Relying on extracts and essential oil of the plant that deer and rabbit don’t like

              Based on our experience, the first way is more effective in repelling deer and rabbit, with less time for these herbivores coming back. However, as many of these products are made of carnivore parts, which is controversial in humanity.

              That’s why the second way is coming into place.

              Bonus: The most effective plants that both deer and rabbit stay away from are lavender, snapdragons, daffodils, forsythia, lilac bush, and marigolds.

              Type

              When it comes to deer and rabbit repellents, there are two common types to consider:

              • Granular
              • Liquid

              Granular repellents don’t smell as bad as the liquid and they don’t require complicated applications during the spring and summer. However, they are less effective due to less coverage on your plants plus they don’t work if deer or rabbit decides to take a taste.

              The liquid repellent is on the contrary.

              Safety

              You should make sure that the chosen deer and rabbit repellent product contains no toxins and also meets all the safety standards to not cause harm to your pets, kids, or even the herbivore.

              It is not only about humanity but also about the local ecosystem because if a deer or rabbit eats your plants – which are covered with toxin repellents, they die outside of your property.

              And if a predator, like foxes or cougars, eats them, secondary poisoning happens and kills them, too.

              Which Brands Make The Best Deer And Rabbit Repellent?

              Bonide

              Becoming membership of the ADAMA Group under the Syngenta Global organization makes BONIDE a very reliable brand when it comes to deer and rabbit repellents. Besides, this is one of the longest-standing brands with over 90 years of expertise in this industry.

              Plantskydd

              Another dependable brand where you can find high-quality, earth-friendly plant protection products is Plantskydd, with more than 30 years experience. Their products are proudly made in the US and have wide market acceptance in both Canada and USA.

              Safer Brand

              Not only renowned in pest control products but Safer® Brand is also a trusted brand in plant protection products. They've got over 30 years of experience in this field, so they know how to make quality products that can solve problems quickly with little to no side effects on animals or earth.

              FAQs

              Does deer repellent work against rabbits?

              It depends on the brand and product line. Some effective deer repellent products that can also work against rabbits, squirrels, and other herbivores are:

              • Bonide Repels-All Animal Repellent Concentrate
              • Plantskydd Animal Repellent
              • Safer Brand Concentrate 5972
              • Liquid Fence Deer & Rabbit Repellent Concentrate
              • Everguard ADPR032
              • Nature's Mace Deer & Rabbit Repellent

              Should I use liquid or granular deer and rabbit repellents?

              Each type of deer and rabbit repellent has its pros and cons, therefore, you should determine your needs to find out the right one.

              Liquid deer and rabbit repellents are easy to apply and effective for 24” high vegetation while granular ones last longer and don’t smell bad.

              Will deer and rabbit repellent harm my plants?

              No, they won’t. Deer and rabbit repellent products these days are certified for quality and safety to vegetation. Besides, it uses smell to scare herbivores away without having to take a bite to be repelled.

              How often should I reapply deer and rabbit repellent?

              We would say that it depends on the product you choose and the weather conditions. During dry seasons, reapply in 4-8 weeks. During rain seasons, reapply every week or two weeks.

              Will the rabbit repellent keep wild animals that I like from coming to my yard?

              To know if the rabbit repellent that you use works against the wild animals that you like from coming to your yard, you should look at the product descriptions:

              • Which animals does it work against
              • Do its ingredients repel the animal that you like from visiting your backyard?

              In general, rabbit repellent products made of carnivores parts and dried blood will work against most other herbivore animals whilst plant-based products might not.

              Conclusion

              We hope the information in this buying guide sparks an interest in a more humane solution to scare herbivores away from your garden. The six best deer and rabbit repellents in this review are hand-picked from years' real-life testing, which is trustworthy.

              Hi, my name is Eugene, the ultimate home enthusiast! I write buying guides and ideas on how to create a warm and welcoming home. Join me on my journey to make everyday in your house a staycation in the comfort of your own space!


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