The Simple Tool That Keeps Raccoons From Munching Your Bird Seed

If there's a phrase raccoons can never understand — it is this simple, three-word expression: "out of reach." This should come as a surprise because raccoons are among the most intelligent animals out there. They are smarter than cats and dogs and can perform almost as well as monkeys on aptitude tests. Suppose you add this to the fact that raccoons are quite strong, especially for their size, and can operate like seasoned acrobats. In that case, you can begin to appreciate why these nocturnal vigilantes can never wrap their heads around those vexatious three words. All these point to one thing: keeping raccoons from munching your birdseed feels nearly impossible.

Fortunately, humans have a much higher IQ than raccoons; hence, they can devise several creative devices, like the baffle, to keep these stocky bandits from their thoughtfully prepared bird seeds. In short, thank to the cylinder-shaped device, you don't have to lock your feeders in your garage, use seeds prepared with hot spices, or let out an energetic Labrador Retriever on them. If you've been scoping for a simple tool to keep raccoons away — and have not come across any that works — chances are, you haven't tested out the baffle. Here's why it should be on your next shopping list.

You can keep raccoons from your bird feed in several ways. However, a baffle is the best — or one of the best tools out there. For perspective, baffles that are meant to deter raccoons are typically 10 inches in diameter and 2 feet tall — a length designed to keep raccoons from stretching over and around the gadgets. They are made to slide into a pole, where it serves as a barrier to prevent raccoons from climbing up and reaching the feeders, often placed a few inches higher. Typically, you first screw a metal collar to the desired height on the pole, then slide the baffle down from the top. The collar, therefore, serves to hold the baffle in place and keeps it from sliding further down to the ground. Alternatively, some poles come pre-fitted with raccoon baffles, like the Kettle Moraine Bird Feeder Pole, eliminating the need to assemble the different parts.

Without the baffle, raccoons will simply climb the pole and access your feeder and bird seed. To make them more effective, baffles are typically made of galvanized steel. First, galvanized steel is smooth, meaning your expert climbers won't have sufficient grip to steady themselves. Secondly, galvanized steel resists rust. So, not only is it a humane way of deterring raccoons from your yard, but it's also easy to maintain.