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How do I keep away predators?
Home » Outdoor Decor » Birdhouses » How do I keep away predators?Squirrels, raccoons, snakes, cats, wasps, and other species of birds can all threaten the safety of your birdhouse’s residents, however, you should wait until you have a problem before you start making time-consuming efforts to protect your birds from predators. In many cases, predators simply do not bother birdhouses, so don’t spend time keeping predators away until you see evidence of them around the house.
If you begin to have predator problems, first make sure that your birdhouse’s entrance hole is the proper size. A hole that is too large or has a perch beneath it accommodates predators and is unnecessary to the birds. You can also protect your hole by placing a metal band around the hole (which keeps predators from enlarging the hole) or placing an extra block of wood with an identical hole to over the first hole, thus lengthening the hole.
In addition, take steps to keep predators from climbing to the birdhouse. Consider mounting your birdhouse on top of a pole rather than on a tree. If you already use a pole, grease the pole to keep down squirrels and other predators. As an even more extreme measure, purchase metal baffles (i.e. metal collars) to place around the pole or tree.
Related Birdhouses Articles
- Introduction to Birdhouses
- How do I build or buy a birdhouse?
- When and where do I put up a birdhouse?
- How do I monitor and clean a birdhouse?
- How do I keep away predators?