A raccoon is stealing all my birdseed

I have a large picture window in my kitchen, and there are a bunch of trees viewed from it. I have a bird feeder which takes about a 2 gallon jug of birdseed to fill it, and it is near the trees. A raccoon climbs those trees and steals the birdseed, sometimes within a couple days after I filled it. Squirrels also take some, but that is not a problem because there is so much bird seed, it is the raccoon that is eating so much and is a problem for me. Is there any kind of deterrent like food or spices or some kind of natural repellent that would keep him away, but not scare the birds away?

The only way to keep a coon away from the bird feeder is to relocate the coon, whether it be to a farm pond or another neighborhood is up to you. Be warned though, there is guaranteed to be more than one so don’t put the live trap away after you catch the first one.

sticker wrote:

whether it be to a farm pond or another neighborhood

I generally use the farm pond method. Haven’t had any come back doing it that way, nor would that be something I wanna to see…

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I had an issue with raccoons raiding my feeders this spring. I gave 2 of them 1-way tickets to the landfill. Haven’t seen another since. Now, if I could keep the deer away, too…

I don’t think I could kill them fast enough this year. Had to move to a single feeder on a metal pole away from tree. The critters can’t climb this pole.

We have a young one in the tree that refuses to leave. Wife thinks he is cute. Gave him a name too. Ricky. Ricky the Racoon…

Pole is similar to this style.

-J.

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Whisper 1300 and red cone pellets .

Lighted bow sights

Shoot the damn thing.:?: What do you think the rest of us do but don’t say. It’ll be gone then. Through it in a ditch. Not like it has a value in the pelt.

If a mouse was on your counter in your kitchen and kept eating your bread, would you ask the same question on here?

Think of it this way. You like bird seed for your birds, and I assume bread for a sambwitch? Is it different that a mouse?

12 Gauge with 2 shot works best.

I ventilate them with the .40 cal. Best year – over 30 that turned into fox and coyote food.
I did have to replace a couple bird feeders and a bird bath. Collateral damage.

Fill the feeder in the morning with just enough seed for the birds during the day and the coons will stop coming around if the feeder is empty every night.

If the feeder is on a metal pole you can grease the pole with Crisco, etc. to keep them from climbing it.

I alsways enjoy these discussions…. we all draw a different line in the sand as to what animals are “vermin” and those that are sacrosanct. I’ve given many a rodent swimming lessons, just saying.

Interesting discussion with kids as to why it’s ok to drown worms, kill minnows, rodents, etc. but spend $$$’s at a vet to keep a pet alive.

trophy19 wrote:

Interesting discussion with kids as to why it’s ok to drown worms, kill minnows, rodents, etc. but spend $$$’s at a vet to keep a pet alive.

Yep. I’ve been dealing with this lately.

Another option is to just take the feeder in at night for a week or two. They’ll lose interest when there is no food out.

There are ways to discourage them from raiding birdfeeders without having to kill them – assuming that you’re smarter than a raccoon……..

stop feeding the birds. it will save you $ too. my wife must spend at least a hundo to feed those stupid birds. for what? coons gotta eat too.

eyeguy507 wrote:

coons gotta eat too.

True, feed them lead or steel!!!

Is this coon still alive??

Have a Heart live traps.

Then let em go at Dutch Boy’s place.

I’d shoot a bird before I shot a raccoon but happy to let ’em both do their thing.

No offense to you bird nuts, but raccoons are cooler than birds all day long. Have you ever looked into a bird’s beady eyes? They’re shifty, not to be trusted.