- Rabbits enjoy consuming a variety of vegetables and flowers, including petunias. Desert cottaintail, brush and jack rabbit are the three varieties that inhabit the United States, though those that are consuming your petunias are most likely of the cottontail or brush variety. Desert cottontails are 12 to 15 inches in length, weigh 1 1/2 to 2 3/4 lbs. and have pale gray, yellowish-tinted fur. Brush rabbits have brown fur, are 11 to 13 inches in length and weigh 1 1/4 to 1 4/5 lbs.
- Squirrels are the other rodent predator of petunias. This medium-sized tree rodent is pale to dark gray in color with a white to pale gray tail. Size ranges from 16 to 22 inches long with the tail 6 1/2 to 10 inches long. They weigh between 1 and 2 1/2 lbs. Squirrels enjoy the spicy, sweet taste of petunia petals as well as nuts, seeds, bark, leaves, twigs, fruit and mushrooms. Squirrels generally stay within the vicinity of their nests while foraging for food.
- Keep rabbits away from your petunias and other gardens by fencing the area in. Use chicken wire and dig trenches that are 6 to 10 inches deep to bury part of the fencing. This ensures that the rabbits will not be able to dig under the fence to feast on your petunias. The fence should be at least 2 feet above ground as well. Remove piles of brush, brambles and twigs to discourage rabbits as they like to hide in such areas.
- Trapping is one method of controlling petunia-munching squirrels, though you need to check with your local government agency for laws on trapping animals. Hot pepper spray is another control option; use the spray on the petunias to make them distasteful to squirrels. For severe squirrel problems use chicken wire over the entirety of your petunias as this is the only fencing method that will keep them away from the flowers. If you do not have a cat that can roam your property and keep the squirrels away, ask friends and family with felines for some fur and urine-soaked litter to scatter around your petunia garden.