How to Keep Raccoons Away from Bird Seed

How To Stop Racoons From Eating Bird Seed

Raccoons are a common pest in many parts of the country, and they can be a real nuisance for bird lovers. Raccoons love to eat birdseed, and they can quickly empty a bird feeder in a matter of minutes. If you’re having trouble keeping the raccoons away from your birdseed, there are a few things you can do.

In this article, we’ll discuss some of the most effective ways to stop raccoons from eating birdseed. We’ll cover everything from deterrents to traps, and we’ll give you tips on how to keep raccoons out of your yard altogether.

So if you’re tired of fighting with the raccoons over your birdseed, read on for some helpful tips!

Method	Description	Effectiveness
Use a baffle	A baffle is a device that hangs over the bird feeder and prevents raccoons from reaching the seed.	High
Use a motion-activated sprinkler	A motion-activated sprinkler sprays water at raccoons when they approach the bird feeder.	High
Cover the bird feeder with a cage	A cage prevents raccoons from reaching the seed inside the bird feeder.	High
Hang the bird feeder from a pole	Hanging the bird feeder from a pole makes it more difficult for raccoons to reach.	Medium
Use a raccoon-proof bird feeder	A raccoon-proof bird feeder is designed to prevent raccoons from accessing the seed.	High
Feed the birds at dawn or dusk	Raccoons are most active at night, so feeding the birds at dawn or dusk will help to reduce the chances of them being attracted to the bird feeder.	Medium
Clean up any spilled seed	Raccoons are attracted to spilled seed, so it is important to clean up any seed that has been spilled on the ground.	High

How to Stop Raccoons From Eating Bird Seed?

Raccoons are a common problem for bird lovers, as they can quickly eat all of the bird seed in a feeder. There are a number of things you can do to prevent raccoons from eating your bird seed, including:

Prevention

Keep bird feeders clean and well-maintained. Raccoons are attracted to bird seed that is dirty or spilled on the ground. Make sure to clean your bird feeders regularly and sweep up any spilled seed.

Use baffles to prevent raccoons from reaching the bird seed. Baffles are devices that are placed around bird feeders to prevent raccoons from being able to reach the seed. There are a variety of different types of baffles available, so you can choose one that fits your needs and budget.

Install motion-activated lights or sprinklers to deter raccoons. Motion-activated lights or sprinklers can help to deter raccoons from coming into your yard. The lights will turn on when the raccoons approach, and the sprinklers will spray water at them. This can startle the raccoons and make them think twice about coming back.

Fence in your yard or bird feeder area. If you have a large yard, you may want to consider fencing in the area where you keep your bird feeders. This will prevent raccoons from being able to access the feeders.

Removal

If you have tried all of the prevention methods and you are still having problems with raccoons eating your bird seed, you may need to remove them from your property. There are a few different ways to do this, including:

Trap and release raccoons humanely. Trapping and releasing raccoons is a humane way to remove them from your property. You can purchase traps from a hardware store or online. Once you have caught the raccoons, you can release them in a wooded area that is at least 5 miles away from your home.

Contact a professional wildlife removal company. If you do not feel comfortable trapping and releasing raccoons yourself, you can contact a professional wildlife removal company. They will be able to safely and humanely remove the raccoons from your property.

Raccoons can be a nuisance, but there are a number of things you can do to prevent them from eating your bird seed. By following these tips, you can enjoy watching your birds without having to worry about the raccoons.

Here are some additional tips for preventing raccoons from eating bird seed:

• Hang your bird feeders from a sturdy branch that is at least 10 feet off the ground.
• Place your bird feeders in a location that is not visible from the street or other areas where raccoons are likely to be.
• Use a bird feeder that has a secure lid that the raccoons cannot open.
• Feed your birds in the morning or evening, when the raccoons are less active.
• Avoid using birdseed that is high in fat or protein, as this is more attractive to raccoons.
• If you have a compost pile, keep it covered so that the raccoons cannot get to it.

By following these tips, you can help to keep your bird seed safe from raccoons and enjoy watching your birds for many years to come.

Home Remedies

There are a number of home remedies that you can try to deter raccoons from eating your bird seed.

• Use cayenne pepper, hot sauce, or ammonia to deter raccoons. Raccoons have a strong sense of smell, and they are not fond of the smell of cayenne pepper, hot sauce, or ammonia. You can sprinkle these substances around your bird feeders or on your bird seed to deter raccoons from eating it.
• Hang aluminum foil or plastic bags around your bird feeders. Raccoons are afraid of shiny objects, so hanging aluminum foil or plastic bags around your bird feeders can help to deter them.
• Play loud music or ultrasonic sounds to scare away raccoons. Raccoons are also afraid of loud noises, so playing loud music or ultrasonic sounds can help to scare them away.

Preventing Raccoons From Returning

In addition to using home remedies to deter raccoons, there are a number of things you can do to prevent them from returning to your yard.

• Clean up any food scraps or other potential food sources. Raccoons are attracted to food, so it is important to clean up any food scraps or other potential food sources in your yard. This includes picking up fallen fruit, emptying your trash cans regularly, and keeping your compost bin covered.
• Secure your garbage cans. Raccoons are very good at getting into garbage cans, so it is important to make sure that your garbage cans are secure. You can do this by using locking lids or by placing your garbage cans in a secure area.
• Keep your yard well-lit at night. Raccoons are nocturnal animals, so they are more active at night. Keeping your yard well-lit at night can help to deter raccoons from coming into your yard.

By following these tips, you can help to keep raccoons away from your bird feeders and your yard.

Raccoons can be a nuisance, but there are a number of things you can do to deter them from eating your bird seed and from returning to your yard. By using home remedies and taking steps to prevent them from returning, you can enjoy your bird feeders and your yard without having to worry about raccoons.

Here are some additional tips for deterring raccoons:

• Install a motion-activated sprinkler. A motion-activated sprinkler can help to deter raccoons from coming into your yard. The sprinkler will spray water when it detects motion, which will scare away the raccoons.
• Use a raccoon repellent. There are a number of commercial raccoon repellents available that can help to deter raccoons from coming into your yard. These repellents typically contain ingredients that are unpleasant to raccoons, such as garlic, pepper, or ammonia.
• Contact a professional wildlife removal company. If you have tried all of the above methods and you are still having trouble with raccoons, you may need to contact a professional wildlife removal company. A wildlife removal company can trap and remove the raccoons from your property.

By following these tips, you can help to keep raccoons away from your bird feeders and your yard.

How To Stop Racoons From Eating Bird Seed?

Q: What are the best ways to keep raccoons from eating bird seed?

A: There are a number of ways to keep raccoons from eating bird seed, including:

• Use a baffle. A baffle is a device that fits around the pole of a bird feeder and prevents raccoons from reaching the seed. There are a variety of different types of baffles available, so you can choose one that fits your specific needs.
• Hang the bird feeder out of reach. Raccoons can climb trees, so if you hang your bird feeder from a branch that is too high for them to reach, they will not be able to get to the seed.
• Use a motion-activated sprinkler. A motion-activated sprinkler will spray water at raccoons when they approach the bird feeder, deterring them from coming back.
• Cover the bird feeder with a cage. A cage will prevent raccoons from getting to the seed, even if they can reach the bird feeder.
• Use a repellent. There are a number of different repellents available that can help to keep raccoons away from bird feeders. Repellents can be applied to the bird feeder, the ground around the bird feeder, or the trees near the bird feeder.

Q: What if I already have raccoons eating my bird seed?

A: If you already have raccoons eating your bird seed, there are a few things you can do to get rid of them:

• Scare them away. You can try scaring the raccoons away by making loud noises, clapping your hands, or waving a broom or stick at them.
• Trap them. You can trap raccoons using a live trap. Once you have trapped the raccoons, you can release them back into the wild or take them to a local animal shelter.
• Call a professional. If you are unable to get rid of the raccoons yourself, you can call a professional animal control company.

Q: How can I prevent raccoons from getting into my trash cans?

A: There are a number of ways to prevent raccoons from getting into your trash cans, including:

• Use a trash can with a tight-fitting lid. A trash can with a tight-fitting lid will make it difficult for raccoons to get into the trash.
• Secure the trash can to the ground. You can secure the trash can to the ground by using a bungee cord or a chain.
• Place the trash can in a shed or garage. If you have a shed or garage, you can keep your trash can in there to prevent raccoons from getting to it.
• Use a raccoon-proof trash can. There are a number of different types of raccoon-proof trash cans available on the market. These cans are designed to make it impossible for raccoons to get into the trash.

Q: What other tips do you have for keeping raccoons away from bird feeders and trash cans?

A: Here are a few additional tips for keeping raccoons away from bird feeders and trash cans:

• Clean up any spilled bird seed. Raccoons are attracted to spilled bird seed, so it is important to clean up any seed that has been spilled on the ground.
• Keep your yard free of debris. Raccoons like to hide under debris, so it is important to keep your yard free of things like old boxes, tires, and piles of leaves.
• Secure your compost pile. Raccoons will eat food scraps from compost piles, so it is important to secure your compost pile so that they cannot get to it.
• Be patient. It may take some time to get rid of the raccoons, so be patient and persistent.

By following these tips, you can help to keep raccoons away from your bird feeders and trash cans.

Raccoons are a common problem for bird lovers, as they can quickly eat all of the seed in a bird feeder. There are a number of ways to deter raccoons from eating bird seed, including using a baffle, a motion-activated sprinkler, or a decoy owl. You can also try hanging the bird feeder in a tree or on a pole that is too high for raccoons to reach. If all else fails, you can use a repellent that is specifically designed to keep raccoons away.

By following these tips, you can help keep your bird feeders full and your feathered friends happy.

Here are some key takeaways:

• Raccoons are attracted to bird seed, so it is important to protect your feeders from them.
• There are a number of ways to deter raccoons, including using a baffle, a motion-activated sprinkler, or a decoy owl.
• You can also try hanging the bird feeder in a tree or on a pole that is too high for raccoons to reach.
• If all else fails, you can use a repellent that is specifically designed to keep raccoons away.