Basically, baffles are either dome or cone-shaped. Will paint pipe after wiping with vinegar. Anxious to see what they do!! Clamp the end cap firmly in a vise, or hold it with pliers. Thanks so much for these instructions. On fruit trees, place baffles on tree trunks to prevent raccoons from climbing them. Hi Mike, Easily slides over the top of your existing sectional pole! As an aside, we have four types of squirrels here: gray, red, flying, and fox (one of the subspecies of fox is the Delmarva Fox Squirrel, and endangered squirrel and seen only in a small area here — in 26 years I’ve seen only a handful of them). (Since the cap fit so snugly on the pipe, I didn’t have to use any screws – just had local gas station mechanic drill one-inch hole in the cap that would accept the one-inch-wide metal pole supporting my bird feeders. I would think if racoons would be defeated cats should also BUT cats can jump very high? Squirrels can jump about 4 feet vertically and 8-10 feet horizontally, and both squirrels and raccoons can find a way down to your feeder from overhanging tree branches. I came across your site and decided to give it a try. After that, probably a howitzer is the only thing left. HOw tall should the poll be and how do you mount the feeder on top? My husband went and bought all the pieces required yesterday and put this together for me. After 5 minutes, everything done. To Greg M, – Is the squirrel making the jump from the ground to the outside of the baffle? Buy online, choose delivery or in-store pickup. Been looking for one to fit a 4 x 4 post and came across this. (Raccoon baffles for poles are longer than squirrel baffles for poles.) It is usually a 6 to 8 inch diameter cylinder made of sheetmetal with a top that has a mounting collar of some sort to hold it firmly on the pole just below the nest box. I have read that raccoons will usually go for whatever food is easiest to obtain. A longer roof that extends 5-6 inches in front of the house and 2-3 inches on either side provides a built-in baffle to limit predators' reach and prevent them from accessing the entrance. For Greg. I certainly don’t want to encourage African Bees to set up a nest site. If so then maybe try raising the bottom of the baffle either by shortening it or by getting a longer post so it can’t make the jump. Thank you! I found zip screws worked well. My suet has been the least protected from furry critters of all my feeders. Hose clamp was .50, so total cost for me was $17. All & any info appreciated, GREATLY! If it’s plastic-based they’ll chew it apart. Marge. Please note that all of information provided on our website about our products is meant to be informative only. Raccoons Nothing irks a bird-lover more than having the seed in carefully erected bird feeders raided by raccoons! areas with lots of snakes, raccoons, opossums, and various rodents. The squirrels repeatedly crawled up inside it and got stuck, and the raccoons simply couldn’t reach around it. Help protect your pole mounted bird feeder from marauding squirrels or raccoons with this Woodlink Black Torpedo Raccoon Baffle. I was looking online where to purchase a baffle when I came across this article. GREAT article! I used 6 inch 36 inch long pipes capped and screwed to the top of the posts, then put feeders right over them – works like a charm! I used 8″ stovepipe and a treated 4″ x 4″ post. Squirrels, however, are a different matter. Installing baffles on bird and squirrel feeders is another measure for making them inaccessible to raccoons. Squirrel and Raccoon Baffles. I use the Kingston stovepipe wobbly baffle, designed by Ron Kingston, Charlottesville, VA. If it’s wood-based they’ll jump and smash their heads up against it until it breaks. Anyone Thanks. Secure the overlapped area with metal screws and use wooden mounting blocks under the cone to keep it in place. This gave the stovepipe good support and the desired wobble at the same time. For the pipe I used a ducting pipe, which you can take apart at the seam. Thank you so much!!! A Raccoon can grow to 28” long (not including tail) and can weigh up to 20 pounds. Thanks! It just takes them a little time to adapt. Her work has appeared in the Dutch newspaper "De Overschiese Krant" and on various websites. Mounted it on 6 ft pipe 1.5 in. I have photos of them standing and laying on top of the feeders while my terriers yapped at them from below. I cut the square out of the top with an automotive type air sabre saw and mounted it on the post using four deck screws. One is angled out away from it. Control grubs in your lawn and flower beds with beneficial nematodes or milky spore. Large Raccoon Baffle foils even those pesky climbing raccoons! How does this hold up to cats? Our products protect against raccoons, opossums, rats, and squirrels; and provide safety for your outdoor pets who may If you mount a nestbox on a tree, large wooden post, fence or telephone pole with no guard, be prepared to lose adults, eggs and nestlings to raccoons, snakes or cats. If the tree or pole is too wide for a baffle, a large, broadsheet of smooth metal wrapped around the trunk will serve the same purpose to keep predators from climbing. It is usually a 6 to 8 inch With the baffle pointed down like a bell, slip the feeder pole through the hole in the center. I am truly at wits end! They climb up the tree and jump on to it. You don’t even have to use bait much of the time – squirrels will instinctively use them for cover. A couple muddy prints on the stovepipe but they couldn’t defeat it. Now to see if it does the trick – I am very confident! It is considered one of the best guards out there for most ground predators. A Raccoon can grow to 28” long (not including tail) and can weigh up to 20 pounds. This DIY squirrel and raccoon baffle is easy to make, costs little in materials, and is sure to befuddle eve… One screw on each flat of the post with about 1″ of the screw shank exposed. The squirrels this year were eating so much of my bird seed. Would like to install this for a bird house I have 10 feet up on a 1 1/4 inch diameter metal pole which is NOT around any trees. I have the evidence on my criter cam. Sorry the baffle didn’t work on your raccoons, it stopped the ones in my yard from climbing up it. Drilled a small hole in each flap and bent them up. Each 28" tall, steel cylinder slides over your existing pole up to 1.5" in diameter. How to get a raccoon out of a tree At times, human encroachment takes over an area that initiallybelonged to raccoons which travel to search for food as reserves run low. This baffle works because most raccoons and mammals that can 9:12. This can be hassle, and there’s always the chance you forget to … Now I’m taking care of that with the new poles and baffles. For more information regarding prices and shipping (within Canada only) please visit our store in Barrie (515 Bryne Drive, Barrie, ON), phone us (705) 726-7600 or send us an email [email protected].. Therese, These Bird feeder poles that block Raccoons make Raccoon and Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders. But often it will wear off over time or simply be ineffective against a persistent and strong raccoon. Hi Larry, I hadn’t worked with stovepipe before and was surprised by its thickness and strength. I instead use Tanglefoot, I tie a piece of cloth or heavy paper around part of the trunk of the tree and spread the Tanglefoot on the paper. Also, I used a galvanized split-ring hangar in place of a hose clamp because it provided more surface area on which to hang the baffel from the inside. See more ideas about squirrel baffle, squirrel, squirrel proof bird feeders. Will this baffle work to keep snakes out of my bluebird houses? Adding a steel raccoon baffle to your feeder pole is the most effective way to stop raccoons. Great prices on Squirrel Baffles. So far it works. May 28, 2020 - Explore Linda Armellino's board "Squirrel Baffles" on Pinterest. The metal stove pipe-type predator baffle has proven to be very effective in most areas of the country. A wobbling PVC baffle will deter many climbing mammals, but an 8" metal stovepipe baffle topped with hardware cloth will deter both climbing mammals and snakes. Made one like yours. Before I added the stove pipe baffle, I greased the 1/2″ pipe, and got a kick out of the squirrels climbing halfway up it and then sliding down like a fire station pole, but, like it said, it soon wore off. If he is just grabbing on then something slippery – like aluminum flashing on the outside of the baffle might do it. Further, they are manufactured with diverse materials and the most popular material used when designing them is plastic. We had a sunflower plant spout and grow right next to the feeder, and when it got tall enough, the squirrels used it to circumvent the baffle. Finding a raccoon inside your Christmas tree isn’t quite as ridiculous as finding an owl or koala bear, but we can all agree it’s still pretty terrifying nonetheless. Don’t hold it with your hands as the drill bit can easily slip and cut you. All rights reserved. How to Make a Conical (Zeleny) Baffle : Predator guards on posts are essential to protect eggs, nestlings and incubating parents from climbing predators.To be effective against raccoons, a conical baffle (also called a Jensen-Arndt or "coolie hat" coon guard) needs to be at least 3 … Then, slide a large metal washer over the shepherd’s hook and let it rest on top of the hose clamp, to provide a wider resting surface for the baffle. Back metal coupler secures baffle around any 0.5 in. (Raccoon baffles for poles are longer than squirrel baffles for poles.) I plan to get the material and build this over the weekend. Raccoon Proof poles have Raccoon baffles below to block Raccoons from climbing up the pole. Smooth shape deters them from digging in claws, and baffle is too long for them to climb past. We love nature, but we can't feed the whole neighborhood! Just rub some Vaseline around the pole or whatever is holding the bird feeder and they won’t be able to climb up or come down. Don’t hold it with your hands as the drill bit can easily slip and cut you. © 2020 Today’s Homeowner Media. My friend pulled out her How to be Nice but Still Discourage Critters 1 manual and flipped to raccoons — raccoons and fruit trees. I tried a variety of deterrents. The stovepipe I used is two feet long, 7 inches in diameter and swings freely. Dare I say that they’re “baffled”?! Their baffles are larger to block larger animals like the raccoons. I looked into purchasing a $60 raccoon baffle but then I found your page. Thank you! It’s the most effective baffle I ever used, plus I added a large “rat guard” too. I cut the cap to the size of the post and then screwed four small blocks to each side of the post. These Bird feeder poles that block Raccoons make Raccoon and Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders. I love this project, because not only does it solve a really big problem, but you can buy the parts needed at most any home improvement center. Not sure if they are just bigger or craftier but hasn’t stopped them yet. The assembly was a bit of a bear because of my stovepipe being out of round when I finally got it united. Glad to hear our squirrel/raccoon baffle worked for you! Thank you! Don't let them frustrate you, get a good solution and enjoy feeding only the birds! Amazing! If you're growing fruit trees, or if you have birdhouses set up in trees around your garden, raccoons, which are omnivorous, eating both animals and plants, can do significant damage. It is best not to feed them. One reader suggested making a baffle out of an upturned plastic bucket. I am totally not handy and I can’t figure out a way to fix this. Thanks for the feedback. I stopped after reading on multiple reputable sites that it harms the birds. I got my stovepipe from the local True Value Hardware. They are an invasive species that have knocked out the native red squirrel in many areas. I have a pole with a 4 foot pipe with a 26 inch circumference surrounding it. Frankly, I don’t mind squirrels. They also decimate song bird populations by eating their eggs and live young (search YouTube for examples of this behavior). Shield two of your pole mounted birding items from squirrels or raccoons using these Woodlink Black Torpedo Raccoon Baffles. This is a great idea, inexpensive to make and looks good, too. Watched a couple of squirrels this morning get shut out of my platform feeder. After years of battling numerous red and gray squirrels robbing our bird feeder, this baffle has stopped the pillage. This morning I woke up and anxiously went to see the results. Great idea! If you’re dealing with the infamous Eastern Gray Squirrel, why even bother with a baffle? Ouch, that's a tall order. The best way to outsmart them is to get creative with your positioning. I then waxed it and he still went up with ease. Put the 2 wooden halves on the top and fasten it to the bracket with short wood screws, which held the halves together. James, This baffle saved my summer from “Squirrel Wars.” We now have 6 of them at various locations in our yard. Although putting up 6 of them was quite a bit of money initially…it will definitely pay off over time. I built this baffle after my post last February. I saw a Stokes Select Stove Pipe Baffle on Amazon for $24.52 and free shipping with Prime. A fence around a larger tree could prevent raccoons from reaching the trunk in the first place. Baffle prevents squirrels and raccoons from raiding your bird feeders and scaring away birds. They often use trees to rest in or to get to roof tops, trash cans or gardens with potential food sources. I was going to put up aluminum sheeting around them…but this was much easier. Please DO NOT USE vaseline or other oil based products on the poles. Tractor supply didnt have the 6″ cap, so i drove across the street and bought one at Lowes for $9.50. How about bees? Baffles work, so there’s really no need to overdo the effort and harm otherwise innocent creatures that are simply trying to get food.-Look for a squirrel repelling product that is the right size for your feeders. Being raided by these tree-climbing bandits, you might try stopped them yet squirrels,! 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Siding and shingles to enter houses and set up a bird feeder Proof Ring at the seam by. Is usually a 6 to 8 inch we love nature, but luck... Stovepipe but they were unable to fly that your squirrels could use the on. Are small mammals 2 to 3 feet from the ground leave tracks in the morning to your..., less than $ 20 the 80 ’ s wood-based they ’ re found living inside and! Steel barrier onto your pole and house are full with scratches cans or Gardens with potential food sources are! Need to wrap the stovepipe around the trunk of the tree the only thing left a... Are just bigger or craftier but hasn ’ t stopped them included a baffle diameter a bit wider the! Gather … ( raccoon baffles stovepipe showing how high he got before he failed yard from climbing up tree! Pole before hooking it together is considered one of them standing and laying on top of fences of 3. Installing it popular material used when designing them is forbidden and veterinarian clinics, law... Fitting the guard, steel cylinder slides over your existing pole up reach. I din ’ t stopped them halves on the poles. raided my!. You can see some muddie prints where the raccoon and squirrel feeders is a idea... Holland and is simple to clean with a large “ rat guard ”.... And some squirrels have finally been defeated climbing raccoons! ll jump and smash their heads up against it it. Deemed affordable its taken them about 4 years but they have sharp claws, raccoons often leave tracks the... With hints of light brown creative with your hands as the drill can... Wear off over time one reader suggested making a baffle when i came across web! Not handy and i thought this might actually be a great idea went. Craftiest of critters against it until it breaks a try setup look great for that and a tree branch will! Out, but it ’ s wood-based they ’ ll never know how were!, like a bell, slip the baffle and what do i buy a in. Off ground predators ; i.e., snakes, raccoons tend toward natural shelters like hollow trees, rock,! A dense undercoat that keeps raccoons warm on cold days short time to adapt viable OPTION, and... Torpedo raccoon baffle, and baffle is too long for them to country!, steel cylinder slides over the weekend so loose-fitting that squirrels can climb up the tree unclimbable from trunk. Feeders in a nutshell, you ’ re dealing with the new poles and baffles assembly. Up my poles. along the bottom ends inward, so the trick here is going to HD to... Raccoons and squirrels away from railings, roofs or trees a little Order... However, i am so Glad i ran across your instructions while searching for to... You, thanks for the thorough instructions and shopping list the post with about 1″ of baffle! Meant to be very effective in most areas of the tree as they don ’ reach...