Birdfeeders are a great way to attract beautiful feathered friends to your backyard. However, they also tend to attract other critters looking for a free meal. From squirrels to raccoons, these pesky animals can cause damage to your bird feeders and steal food from your feathered guests. Luckily, there are fun ways to deter these unwanted creatures and products that can help keep them away.
Squirrels
Squirrels are notorious for raiding birdfeeders. They can climb, jump, and do anything to reach for the seeds. One fun way to discourage squirrels is by placing copper wire around the feeder pole. Squirrels dislike the feeling of the wire and will avoid it. If you have a metal slinky at home, you can also wrap it around the pole to deter any squirrels. You can also add squirrel baffles to your feeder pole. These plastic/metal domes can be placed above or below the feeder, making it difficult for squirrels to climb up to the feeder.
Raccoons
Raccoons are nocturnal creatures that are attracted to the smell of birdseed. And they are the number one reason why bird feeders are returned or warrantied for damage. They are destructive little (big) creatures. They can easily climb up poles and jump onto feeders. One effective product to deter raccoons is a raccoon baffle. These plastic or metal domes can be placed on the pole below the feeder, preventing raccoons from climbing up.
Chipmunks
Chipmunks are small but persistent creatures that can climb up poles and steal seeds. They also prefer the safety and escapability of feeding on the ground so if you can keep the area clean underneath the feeder this will help. One fun way to keep them away is by placing a slinky on the pole. The slippery metal will prevent the chipmunks from climbing up to the feeder. Greasing the pole with petroleum jelly is also an effective way to deter chipmunks. (Since we live near Philadelphia where they grease street lights for crazy sports fans, this doesn’t seem too extreme…)
Deer
Deer are beautiful creatures, but they can be destructive when it comes to bird feeders. They can easily knock over feeders and consume all the seeds. One way to deter deer is by using bitter apple spray. This spray has an unpleasant taste and odor that deer will avoid. You can also place the feeder up higher, preferably at least 7 feet off the ground. This will help prevent deer from reaching your feeder.
Cats
We get this question often, but Cats love to hunt and birdfeeders are like a buffet to them. Simply hanging your feeder higher up and away from trees can be enough to make cats look for easier prey. While it might be a pretty uncomfortable thought, one way that you can keep cats away from bird feeders is to plant the feeder amongst a spiny or uncomfortable shrub like a holly bush.
Products We Carry
Braxton’s has a few tricks up our sleeves when it comes to these nuisance creatures. Here are a few products you can try out today that might help with your critter problem!
- The Squirrel Buster
- Squirrel Baffle
- Fire Mix
- Cage Feeders
- Tall Shepards Hooks
Preventing unwanted animals from raiding your birdfeeders can be a fun and creative endeavor. There are many products available that can help you deter squirrels, raccoons, chipmunks, deer, and cats from stealing seeds or harming birds. By using the tips and products mentioned in this blog, you can ensure that your feathered friends are safe and your birdfeeders are protected. So gear up and make your backyard a bird paradise!
Thank you for joining us with our Wild Bird Blog Series! If you missed any of the other blogs in this series you can check them out here!
Week 1: How To Get Started Feeding
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