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Speaking of predators last night I was watching my new resident raccoon who has taken to my front porch. Those arms are LOOONG! I see how easy it would be for one to clean out a birdhouse!
I’ve never looked at their arms. I’ll have to take notice next time I see one. A friend (facebook) had raccoons raid his purple martin gourds or housing. They climbed over a predator guard (5 ft long 6 ft wide PVC pipe but not wobbling) and bit off the heads of all his martins that didn’t scare off when it came up. It came several times and devastated that rack full of martins.
Tammy
I’ve never had a cylindrical raccoon baffle, just a wobbly cone-shaped squirrel baffle. Do you think I should switch to the cylinder style? Has anyone every used both by putting the raccoon baffle under the squirrel baffle, or is that over-kill?
Susan
PennsylvaniaThese people don’t ship, but if you scroll down you can see the squirrel and raccoon baffles side by side. https://springfieldil.wbu.com/content/show/78111 The difference is huge. You don’t need to use both of them. What you need is the raccoon size baffle. It gets mounted very close to the bottom of the box. Raccoon baffles are about 8″ in diameter by 28″ long. Remember that it has to wobble.
Gin
Atlanta, GAAnd for me, snakes are my issue. A rat snake can climb that baffle in no time. It’s always something!
So this kind isn’t good? This is the one I have and it’s wobbly. I tried to add a direct link, but it didn’t work. It’s on Amazon at this URL: https://www.amazon.com/Woodlink-NABAF18-Audubon-Squirrel-18-Inch/dp/B0010QD5QO/ref=pd_sim_86_6?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=G6E4450KY9MCVA5EJZTQ
Susan
PennsylvaniaIt’s better than nothing Susan. But the cylinder stove pipe baffle is better. Here’s what Sialis says about them. “Raccoons have been known to get around metal cone guards on poles, even those that are 36″ in diameter.” “To be effective against raccoons, a conical baffle (also called a Jensen-Arndt or “coolie hat” coon guard) needs to be at least 3 feet in diameter. Note that even this size does not deter large snakes (over five feet long) well. Conical baffles may be harder to make, more expensive, and less effective than a stovepipe baffle, and sharp edges can be a problem around children and during monitoring. Some raccoons learn to get around them. However, they are probably the easiest baffle to put up when a nestbox is mounted on a wooden post.”
Tammy
Thanks for the advice. I will look into either buying or making the cylinder type this weekend.
Susan
PennsylvaniaI found a video of a raccoon getting around a baffle like yours. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifKQh08ZagQ He was up there eating seed in no time.
Gin
Atlanta, GAWBU.com has a wobbling raccoon baffle on their website. About to order. Will let you know how easy it is to install. I have their pole so that may make a difference.
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