Discouraging Unusual Intruders
Squirrels trying to access bird feeders are a common sight at backyard bird feeders. Occasionally other intruders, like raccoons, cats, or even rats, take an interest in the birdseed. Intruders won’t stop at the birdseed, however. Raccoons and rats will often root through your rubbish bins, leaving a mess everywhere. Rats and mice will also chew on electrical wires, which may cause a powercut or electrical fire. Luckily, you can visit this site for an electrician to rewire all of your outdoor wires so that they aren’t accessible to pests. Here are some more tips to discourage unwelcome visitors from your backyard…
Raccoons
Raccoons can be cute but if encouraged, they can become a real nuisance and even a danger to pets. To reduce their visits:
* Prevent access to feeders – use a baffle on pole feeders and trees to prohibit access.
* Avoid attracting them – don’t intentionally feed raccoons, feed pets inside, secure your garbage can and compost bin lids, pick up fallen birdseed regularly, and pick up fruit that falls
from you fruit trees.
* Frighten them away – try the ScareCrow, a battery-operated, motion-activated sprinkler that sends a burst of water at offending wildlife.
* Try a Yard Guard – The Yard Guard is an electronic motion-activated device that can be programmed to emit a high-pitched sound unpleasant for a variety of animals including raccoons, but be aware that some humans can hear the pitch too, so you might find you have some angry neighbours. You may want to think about installing some lattice fences around the perimeter too, as that can discourage bigger rodents that can’t get through/over. Moreover, if you decide to install fencing yourself, you might have to buy cut-resistant gloves to protect your hands from equipment and wooden chipping. You can procure such resources through sites similar to unigloves.co.uk that are operational near your location.
Rats and Mice
An unfortunate reality in many urban and suburban areas, rats and mice can be unwelcome guests at our feeders. It could be worth hiring someone like this Liverpool pest control service to help deal with them and get the populations under control. Here are some tips for keeping them away:
* Baffle ‘Em too – like squirrels rats are good climbers and jumpers, so follow the Baffle ‘Em advice in the squirrel section.
* Minimize feeder spillage – use a tray or seed catcher to catch seed that birds toss from feeders.
* Rake or sweep – don’t allow excessive accumulation of bird seed below your feeders.
* Spice things up – feed birds seed treated with hot chili oil. Squirrels are not the only rodent repelled by spicy hot food.
* Store seed in metal containers – rats and mice can and will chew through plastic containers.
* Bring feeders in at night – many rats are nocturnal and feed more actively at night.
* Secure your bins – keep your bins closed to discourage them from rooting through your rubbish.
* Keep wires inaccesible – wires are covered in rubber or plastic, which a rat will happily eat. Get an electrician to either move the wires or encase them in a metal tube – this will discourage them from coming into your garden at all.
Cats
Cats make wonderful pets but they are also suburb hunters and pose a real danger to backyard birds. If cats are intruding in your backyard wildlife sanctuary:
* Block their approach – place a thorny rose or bramble in their path or in areas you see them stalking birds.
* Eliminate cat hiding spots – keep bird feeding and bathing areas clear of plants and other objects that might provide hiding spots for bird-stalking cats.
* Try a Yard Guard – The Yard Guard is an electronic motion-activated device that can be programmed to emit a high-pitched sound unpleasant for a variety of animals including cats, but as before, be aware that some humans can hear the pitch too, so you might find you have some angry neighbours.