Homemade Raccoon Baffles for Birdfeeders

Stop these bandits of the night from absconding with your bird food.

Feeding and watching birds of all different feathers can prove to be an enjoyable hobby. However, this pastoral pastime is often ruined by masked invaders, also known as raccoons. All too frequently, a devious and hungry raccoon will find a way to climb its way to the bird feeder and completely devour its contents. When this happens, you needn't grab the nearest firearm with thoughts of vigilante justice on your mind. Rather, you can solve the problem more peacefully by constructing a simple, but effective, raccoon baffle.

Things You'll Need

• Bird feeder pole (if you don't already have one)
• Black or galvanized stovepipe - 6 inches wide x 24 inches long
• Stovepipe end cap - 6 inches wide
• Sheet metal screws - 1/2-inch long or less
• Hose clamp (roughly same diameter as the bird feeder pole)
• Electric or cordless drill
• Small metal cutting drill bit (slightly smaller in diameter than the metal screws)
• Large metal cutting drill bit (preferably same diameter or slightly larger than bird feeder pole)
• Vice or pliers
• Screwdriver
• Tin snips (if needed)

Instructions

1. Cut a hole in the top of the end cap. Use your large metal cutting drill bit for this task. Before drilling the hole, place the cap in a vice or hold it tightly with a pair of pliers. Make sure the hole is just large enough to barely slide over the bird feeder pole. If necessary, use tin snips to cut the hole to size.

2. Fit the end cap into one end of the of the stovepipe. The cap should fit securely within the end of the pipe. With the cap in place, use your smaller metal cutting drill bit to drill approximately 4 to 5 evenly-spaced holes around the outside of the pipe, where the sides of the stovepipe and end cap overlap. Be sure the holes go through both the stovepipe and the flanges of the end cap inside the pipe.

3. Insert the metal screws into the holes you've drilled and tighten them with a screwdriver. The screws will help hold the end cap onto the stovepipe.

4. Place the metal hose clamp on the bird feeder pole anywhere between 4 and 5 feet off the ground. Tighten the clamp so that it is secure on the pole.

5. Strip the stovepipe baffle over the top of the bird feeder pole. Obviously, you'll need to remove the bird feeder itself if it's already in place. You may also need to remove any obstacles that prevent the stovepipe from being slipped over the pole. The baffle will come to rest on the hose clamp you've installed. The hose clamp should prevent the baffle from sliding down the pole. It is perfectly fine if the baffle wobbles from side to side, as this will make it even more difficult for the raccoons to climb.

Tips & Warnings

• Purchase a bird feeder pole if you don't already own one. Hanging your bird feeder from a tree only enables the raccoons and limits your options for preventing their intrusion. When setting up the pole, ensure that it is driven securely into the ground.

• Keep the feeder away from any trees, branches or buildings, as the raccoons may be able to use them to access the seeds.

References

• Danny Lipford: How to Make a Squirrel and Raccoon Bird Feeder Baffle
• Bird Feeders Direct: Raccoons at the Feeder