FreeLists / tn-bird / [tn-bird] Re: Feeder Damage

["Bill Darnell" <bdarnel3@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

 Try putting feeders on top of a 4" or larger PVC pipe. I have used them for
years and never had one ground predator climb it yet, including squirrels.
Also cheap.
Bill
Savannah, TN

>
> Yes, I am in the Mississippi Delta, and I have had an awful time with
> raccoons.  They have stolen most of my suet feeders; some of them I found
in
> the woods down the hill.  They will also drink all the nectar from your
> hummer feeders and have torn up one regular bird feeder.
>
> My best solution was an expensive advanced pole system with a racoon guard
> from Wild Birds Unlimited.  But I made the mistake of getting the top part
> with hangers that have a curve instead of the straight-across kind.  With
a
> tube feeder hung on the curved side, The raccoons can stretch up and climb
> onto the tube feeder and empty it out.  They ate holes in some of my
thistle
> feeders and emptied them completely.  I think that if you buy the top
> section that goes straight across, your tube feeders will be safe, too.
> They cannot make it past the raccoon baffle.
>
> I also have an 18 year old cat.  Once she figured out the raccoon was not
a
> weird looking cat intruding  on her territory, she unfortunately could not
> care less about it.  She does not go out unaccompanied  due to foxes and
> great horned owls, not to mention stray dogs, that pose a real danger to
> her.  SHe does have what I call a "kitty atrium," basically a very nice
> redwood and chicken wire type enclosure that is 6 x 6 x 6 that she loves
to
> sleep in til time to come inside at night.
>
> This year's raccoon has learned that there is cat food in the "atrium" and
I
> watched him (or maybe a pregnant "her") reach through the fencing with
both
> hands, pressing the side of his face against the wire, to get every bit of
> cat food her could reach off her plate.  Absolutely hilarious.  Then s/he
> washes her hands in the kitty water bowl and goes off looking for me food!
> She is also fairly fearless of humans; she knew I was watching her from 6
> feet away inside last night.
>
> Go for the raccoon baffles and pole system. Or more havahart traps.
>
> Cindy Mitchell
> Clarksdale, MS
>


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