raccoon baffles do they really work? (1 Viewer)

[cadillactaste]

I find that raccoon are really smart. I'm sitting here looking at the racoon baffle and I'm scratchin' my head. How can this possibly work? And yet one would still need to add one for squirrels right!?! Crazy~ I don't mind feeding the squirrels at their own feeders. But I know for a fact we've coon in the ravine by our home. They are neat to watch...but I don't want them lingering in my backyard! I've dogs that I don't want them to tussel with.

http://www.birdseedery.com/baffle/sb2.html

 

[Bob.M]

Looks like that may deter the masked bandits.
I have a very effective squirrel baffle, which is an upside down 5 gallon bucket. But recently a raccoon has been getting past it to get to the Black Oil Sunflower seed. I started using only 1/2 a scoop of the seed per day, trying to leave as little as possible for the raccoon. At night I would look at about an inch of seed, and in the am, every last seed (And shell) would be gone. Latest trick is to substitute Safflower seed for the Sunflower. I had heard it was distasteful to the squirrels. For the past two nights it has worked. The critter did not take any of the Safflower.
I am still looking for some 5" inside diameter PVC pipe, which may provide a barrier to the raccoon. Maybe I need a smooth metal pipe, as he may be able to dig his claws into the PVC.
All of the birds that previously came to the Sunflower seed still come to the Safflower: Titmice, Cardinals, Downy Woodpeckers, Nuthatch, etc.

 

[cadillactaste]

Bob...you sound very creative in creating something that will work in your own backyard. My husband is a general contractor. But isn't into designing anything for me to use to keep them away from the feeders. But would rather just have me purchase a baffle to keep them away. He just doesn't have time for trial and error I reckon...Who knows. I think it's great that you are finding ways that are working for you. I think you would have better luck with metal. As you say they couldn't dig their nails into it...

It's nuts...We've squirrel feeders and he's yet to mess with them. And there are ears of corn. And yet he ate the nyjer thissle seed out for the birds and chipmunks. Who would have guessed. He chowed down and enjoyed the tasty treat that was on the patio wall. So I've got to watch where I put the food for the mourning doves. I may just scatter it in the grass. So the raccoon won't be as tempted to feel I'm feeding him. I'm now outdoors at night with flashlight in hand. To be certain he isn't out and about before leaving my English Bulldogs outside. It's frustrating...but I must keep them safe!

 

[Bob.M]

So far he has been leaving the Safflower seed alone. Oddly he has shown no interest in the thistle feeder nearby. It too is protected against squirrels with the 5 gallon bucket, but it may be the tiny openings in the tube feeder that he can not deal with.

 

[cadillactaste]

So far he has been leaving the Safflower seed alone. Oddly he has shown no interest in the thistle feeder nearby. It too is protected against squirrels with the 5 gallon bucket, but it may be the tiny openings in the tube feeder that he can not deal with.

Our raccoon hasn't bothered the thistle feeder...Only the stuff I placed on the retaining wall's cap. That he scarfed down. He's also not found the squirrel feeders. [Though I currently also don't know where they are. I had those wire feeders you drop corn down in. And put the nut mixture cob in one and regular ears of corn in the other.] Those squirrels toss them when they are empty. I try to keep them full at all times. But we've over 15 I've seen at one time. And it's just a lost cause. My husband walked the ravine bank with no luck in finding them. I'm curious...maybe the raccoon did find it and take the entire wire cage and all possibly? They are no where to be had anywhere! Geesh...

 

[Zoogoer2000 - Packwatcher]

Lol, I have one of those corn cob holders and I recently stopped using it due to the fact that a raccoon was taking the whole feeder down with him intot the garden