4 Easy Ways to Keep Pesky Raccoons Out of Your Bird Feeders for Good

Garden Garden Pests

Key Takeaways

Choose bird feeders that are difficult or unappealing for raccoons, such as tube feeders with metal caps or weight-activated perches.
Place the bird feeder high off the ground and away from climbable surfaces to prevent raccoons from accessing it.
Keep the area clean by regularly removing spilled bird seed, using seed trays, and avoiding overfilling feeders.
Install motion-activated lights or sprinklers to discourage nocturnal visits from raccoons, though they may adapt over time.

Attracting birds to your backyard with a bird feeder can bring a peaceful, joyful atmosphere that’s hard to beat. However, bird feeders can sometimes also welcome unwanted guests like raccoons and squirrels.

Fortunately, there are several strategies to keep raccoons out of your yard and away from your bird feeders, ensuring your garden remains a sanctuary for the birds you love.

Choose the Right Bird Feeder

Raccoons are excellent climbers and problem solvers, so keeping a bird feeder out of their reach can be challenging.

Choose a bird feeder designed to make food accessible to birds but difficult for raccoons. Some feeders have weight-activated perches that close when heavier animals, like raccoons, try to access them but stay open for lighter birds.

Since raccoons generally can’t chew through metal, tube feeders with metal caps and bases or caged feeders are good options. You can also add a raccoon baffle, which is a cone-shaped device placed on feeder poles to prevent raccoons from climbing up.

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Place the Feeder Correctly

Raccoons are sneaky and clever. Because of this, you'll need to be careful when positioning your bird feeder.

Ensure it’s high off the ground and away from surfaces that raccoons can climb, like trees, fences, posts, or decks. This will prevent them from climbing onto the feeder or jumping onto it from other spots in your yard.

Clean Up the Bird Seed

Any food source will attract raccoons, so make sure to clean up any seeds that birds might scatter on the ground. You could use a seed tray to catch spills, but remember to empty it regularly. Avoid overfilling feeders to reduce the chances of seeds spilling.

Install a Motion-Activated Light

As nocturnal creatures, raccoons are generally active at night. Installing a motion-activated light can help deter their nighttime visits. Motion-activated sprinklers can also keep them away. However, keep in mind that raccoons are adaptable and may eventually get used to these deterrents.