Any time you leave food outside, including bird seed, you are going to inspire curiosity from the wildlife around.
Chances are, especially if you have fruit trees on your property, you already have quite a few critters on your property. You just might not see them often.
At our house, we regularly have squirrels, deer, and raccoons that check out the bird feeders.
Here are some tips for managing bird feeders with a plethora of wildlife around:
+ Don’t leave a bunch of seed in the feeders at dark/overnight. This will help dissuade animals like deer, rodents, raccoons, etc.
+ Get bird feeders that are easy to clean, as this will be important to reduce risk of cross contamination.
+ Cleaning the feeders often will also prevent insects, such as ants from moving in on the feeders.
+ Install caged feeders that make it difficult — if not impossible — for animals besides certain birds to access the seed.
+ Install a baffle (cone-like structure that goes over the pole of the bird feeder) that dissuades squirrels and similar animals from accessing the seed.
Keep in Mind
Squirrels in particular are creative, tenacious animals. Over time, they can learn how to “outsmart” many bird feedings, including some feeders that are considered squirrel-proof.
Seed Storage
Another way to dissuade non-bird wildlife from frequenting your feeders is to not only ensure your feeders aren’t full overnight but also store seeds in a closed, hidden container when not in use. If you leave seed bags or containers in plain sight, it’s likely that wildlife (especially squirrels) will try to get to the seeds. In fact, we had a closed, small glass jar of seeds on our screened-in patio, and a squirrel saw it, and it chewed through the screen to try to get to the seeds. We no longer ever use the screened-in patio for any type of bird seed storage.
Attracting More Birds to Your Property
If you want to attract more birds to your yard, check out my article: Tips for Attracting More Birds to Your Yard.
Questions or Comments?
Leave a comment below or email me at emilykeenphotography@gmail.com. You can also find me on Instagram: emilykeenphotography.
Emily Keen Photography 