Rabbits can do immense damage and will eat some Bromeliads right down to the ground. As long as they do not eat through the cortex the plant will recover.

However because the plant has few reserves it can take a long time for full growth to resume. If the Cortex is severed often the plant dies and will not grow back from the roots.

Slug is a common name for an apparently shell - less terrestrial gastropod mollusc.

Slugs can attack the flowers stems and leaves of Bromeliads. They usually hide down in the lower leaves where there is dampness during the day and move upwards during the night to feed.

The image shows slug damage to the spike of an Aechmea

While chemical bate can be used to kill slug a yeast mixture with flour and sugar can attract them and they drown in the mixture.

Birds can catch and eat many. With heavy infestations, I wait until dark and go around the plants with a torch, picking the slugs off and tossing them into a bucket of water. Some evenings I have even done two rounds catching as many as 60 then another 50 an hour later.