Fencing is the best option according to all the previous discussions here on this question. They also sell several different repellents that some report work to varying degrees. Dave Here is a link that might be useful: rabbits in the garden discussions

Check around for slugs, even little tiny ones. Use slug bait. The brown buds could be botryitis. Here is a link that might be useful: botrytis?

That is exactly what it looks like to me too...unfortunately I'm not aware of anything(safe to use on them to get rid of it). Almost all our Citrus trees in FL have it! They are a pain in the neck and I've tried several different organic sprays(Neem, hort. oils, insecticidal soap) and few others, and nothing has gotten rid of them. They always come back! They usually attack new growths. The only good thing about them is they don't affect the fruits and general health of the tree, it is however very UGLY and makes the tree look terrible! I wish I can find something to get rid of them permanently. Good luck!

Oh no, that's awful. Have never seen that so don't know what would have done that. It does look like a lot of damage. You could try wrapping it with grafting tape, but with that much damage you might have to cut it off. I have attached a link to a GW discussion on this subject. JM's are pretty resilient and you might get new growth below the damage next spring if you do have to cut the top off. If the plant has been grafted, it might not grow back. The new growth will come out in a wagon wheel pattern around the trunk and take several years to look natural again. You can root JM cuttings in wet perlite and covered with plastic. I usually do this in the spring, but this is an emergency. Cut as many different size twigs and branches as you can then dip in rooting hormone. It takes a long time to get a nice JM this way though. Here is a link that might be useful: Using grafting tape on Maple