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--Boundary_(ID_ZbfcyQo9sidTr53to/htNA) Content-type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed; delsp=yes Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable My wife bought me a squirrel and racoon proof feeder stand for my =20 birthday and it has defeated the local raiders. The secret is the =20 height that puts the feeders out of reach and a large torpedo shaped =20 baffle suspended by springs on the pole that prevents climbing. After =20= a few weeks the racoons stopped trying. The stand is very sturdy, hold =20= up to 8 feeders, and has an attached auger that plants it firmly in =20 the ground. It is available at For the Birds in Mahone Bay. You can check it out =20 on their web site. It isn't cheap and needs to be placed about 10 feet =20= away from the trees to prevent jumping, but will save on seed, =20 feeders, bent poles and time. Plus we don't have to listen to racoon =20 squables in the middle of the night anymore. Personally, I like the squirrels and we keep a feeder suspended from a =20= nearby tree. They can leap to it, but the racoons can't. David Sent from my iPod On 2011-11-03, at 5:30 PM, Eleanor Lindsay <kelindsay@eastlink.ca> =20 wrote: > Taking feeders in at night is indeed totally effective; It is =20 > initially a nuisance that ultimately becomes the normal routine =20= > of bird feeding - and it certainly beats the extreme nuisance/cost =20 > of hunting for/replacing lost feeders. > > Eleanor Lindsay > > > On 02/11/2011 11:54 PM, Helene Van Doninck wrote: >> >> Hi Jeff, I agree with the responses you featured in highlighted =20 >> text in >> your email. Relocated animals are taken from their food source and >> territory, have no idea where the food/good habitat in their new =20 >> place , >> and are often driven from the new territory by existing animals. =20 >> Many of >> them simply try to make their way back to their old territory, =20 >> constantly >> having negative interaction with animals whose territory they =20 >> cross. Fact: >> many relocated animals will not survive. Also, depending on the =20 >> time of >> year, you may be leaving orphans. There is also not a lot of open =20 >> territory >> left for these animals. >> >> The main thing to consider though...is the reason they are hanging =20= >> around >> in the first place. Most times ( as in your situation with feeders, =20= >> suet, >> nesting sites), there is an attractant that keeps them coming back. =20= >> Often >> trying to figure out why they are there and dealing with that issue =20= >> will >> make them leave. Raccoons are largely nocturnal and follow =20 >> predictable >> patterns each night based on previous experience. If they know you =20= >> have >> food available or a desirable nesting place ,they will return. If =20 >> you take >> your feeders in at night and repair the spots where they gain =20 >> access to >> nest sites, they will move on. Wildlife solutions start with home =20 >> repair, >> truly. Also simply removing a few "problem" animals is not going to =20= >> solve >> anything. If raccoon A figures out you have a good spot and you =20 >> remove him, >> that territory is opened up to raccoon B who undoubtedly will find =20= >> the >> same bonanza of food/territory. Remove Raccoon B and C moves in.and =20= >> so on. >> There are humane ways to discourage most wildlife, and they often =20 >> start >> with removing the attractant and setting up barriers to accessing =20 >> desirable >> spaces ( i.e. fix the hole in your fascia, soffit, etc). >> >> Other thoughts. ..during nesting season, the most common wildlife =20 >> invasion >> time..they are looking for warm, dark, quiet places to have their =20 >> litters. >> Make it NOT warm dark and quiet and they will usually leave with =20 >> their >> young ( one at a time) over a 24-48 hour period. Some suggestions =20 >> include >> illuminating the area with a light or spot light..and placing a =20 >> radio on a >> talk station playing LOUDLY during their most active time...that will >> usually make them leave. Most animals have alternate den sites and =20= >> can >> relocate the family there. If anyone has particular issues where I =20= >> can help >> advise on humane solutions to wildlife interaction issues, please =20 >> call or >> email me and I will see what I can do. Also, try to have a little =20 >> empathy >> where you can, habitat loss means many of these animals don't have =20= >> a lot of >> options. Try to work with them instead of always wanting to get rid =20= >> of >> them. There are ways to do this. >> >> thanks >> >> Helene >> >> On Wed, Nov 2, 2011 at 10:29 AM, Jeff Hiltz <4x4play@gmail.com> =20 >> wrote: >> >>> I'm just curious on the good, the bad and the ugly of relocating =20 >>> wildlife. >>> >>> Last year we were having issues with Raccoon's around our =20 >>> residence here >>> in Springhill, a family of Raccoon's had taken up residence in our >>> neighbor's garage. They had dug a tunnel and ripped a part of the =20= >>> garage >>> wall down and where living in my neighbor's old car that he has =20 >>> plans for >>> restoration in the future. Then in the evening the raccoon's were =20= >>> stealing >>> our suet's, suet baskets and knocking our feeders down and being =20 >>> an overall >>> nuisance. >>> >>> Frustrated with the damage that they had done to his garage and =20 >>> old car, >>> my neighbor told me that he had plans to kill the Raccoon's. After =20= >>> hearing >>> this and my wife and I being compassionate nature and wildlife =20 >>> lovers, I >>> told my neighbor that I will get a live trap from DNR and relocate =20= >>> them to >>> the banks of a river about 5 km outside of town. >>> >>> I waited until the raccoon's were grown enough that they were out =20= >>> and >>> fending for themselves, then set the trap up in the backyard and was >>> catching and relocating one raccoon a night. I did this for two =20 >>> weeks >>> relocating nine raccoon's until I wasn't finding any more in the =20 >>> trap and >>> not seeing anymore raccoon's around our yards. >>> >>> My neighbor was happy and filled the hole and mended his garage =20 >>> and hasn't >>> ha