See more information on deterring cats and snakes. Both can be purchased at Big Box home improvement stores, usually in the plumbing section near heat registers and furnace filters. Raccoons will climb trees, fences, downspouts, and basically anything that they can grip. For snakes, space or distance are needed between the center pipe used for mounting the nestbox, and the surrounding baffle. It can be painted with Rustoleum paint for plastic, or Krylon paint to blend in. 2 – Metal Screens or Coverings. Remove rim of bucket with a box cutter. Squirrels may climb up the tree trunk, but they’ll be under the baffle and can’t get through the top. A small (4") diameter PVC one does not, as snakes (esp. See Comparing Pros and Cons of Various Predator Guard Styles. They often use trees to rest in or to get to roof tops, trash cans or gardens with potential food sources. You don't have to cut it - the stovepipe comes in 2 foot sections. To prevent raccoons from climbing into or giving birth in your attic, you need to take measures that will make your home or shed unappealing to the next raccoon that walks by. Use cages and screen enclosures to protect valuable plants. Also see: Instructions: Put the baffle on the pole BEFORE you put the nestbox on. The creatures are forced to leave their homes and go to the suburbs and cities instead. I recommend mounting a nestbox on a metal pipe (EMT electrical conduit - 1/2" for light boxes, 3/4 - 1" for heavier boxes). When mounting nestboxes on a T-post, cut two slits (in the shape of an X) in the hardware cloth and slip it down over the post. are copyrighted, and may not be used without the express permission of the photographer. Planting cucumbers around your fruit trees acts as a force field to keep the raccoons away from your trees. A commercial guard is available but it is only 8" tall, which will not deter most snakes. Twenty-four-inch long aluminum or galvanized vent-pipe, available at most hardware stores, can serve as a … They were feasting on the bird feeders so I flashed the outside light to scare them away. The purpose of this site is to share information with anyone interested Just because you don't have predation the first year doesn't mean they are safe - e.g., sometimes it can take raccoons 3-4 years to find the location of a "Happy Meal.". This allows the snake to go up inside the baffle. These can include audible, chemical, and … The Purple Martin Society recommends a baffle that starts 4 feet off the ground. If you can find it, try galvanized stove or vent pipe WITHOUT A SEAM (expensive, can be purchased in long sections and cut down - try Aubuchon's or a place that sells wood burning stoves), as some snakes can climb a seam. To keep raccoons away from downspouts, remove structures that raccoons can use to reach the downspout. If desired, paint the sheet metal so it blends in. The problem is that these natural habitats are being destroyed to give way to human communities and other projects. If you live near the woods, there probably won’t be much success at keeping raccoons away from your buildings. How To Keep Raccoons Away - Raccoons may appear to be a simple, furry and cute animal that has adapted to scavenge food and scraps from a variety of sources, but the reality is that they are particularly hardy and adaptable, which is why you can find raccoons almost everywhere in the United States. Wear gloves.) The slicker the better. Note: Some folks just use an upside-down, 5 gallon plastic paint/joint compound bucket, with the metal bail/handle removed. Hardware cloth is flexible wire mesh available in hardware and garden stores. They love climbing trees, nesting in big logs, foraging fruits, and washing up along riverbeds. Look around your yard and make a mental note of any object that is in close proximity to the downspout. Note: A black matte finish will probably rust - galvanized is better. It will also deter squirrels, chipmunks, mice, and rats as long as they cannot otherwise jump to the box. What does not work well, or is not recommended: Use of a Bird Guardian (a commercially available plastic tube inserted into the entrance hole or screwed onto the box exterior) would provide protection against reaching predators (not snakes). Just make sure that you provide at least three feet of protective barrier. On Purple Martin structures mounted on 3"x3" steel square tubing, you can use an elevated, inverted 38 gallon trash can as a baffle. Step 1 Use a tree trimmer or saw to trim trees around your home or any building where raccoons are a problem. Damage usually occurs right before harvest. 8 inch diameter (wider is better) x 24 inch long. In the top of the PVC cap, drill a hole in the middle that is about 1/8" larger than the mounting pole. 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