Every year, we preach a bit of an absolutist sermon.
We tell Houston homeowners to just get rid of their birdfeeders. It’s like laying out a buffet for rats and squirrels, and for the most part, we’d just prefer that homeowners skip the hassle.
But we get that life is short. And if a bird feeder is one of your sources of joy, there are some ways you can have one without risking a total infestation.
What’s the best way to have a bird feeder without attracting rats and squirrels?
Get an inspection before you put the feeder up. Some of our newer exclusion methods will absolutely keep rats and squirrels out of your house unless you put a new roof on your home.
Get those powerful exclusion methods working for you first, and the presence of a bird feeder in your yard doesn’t matter as much. The special mortar and resin mix that we use has proven, so far, to be impossible for Houston’s rats to chew for.
But if you just put a feeder in the yard without protecting your home first, the outcome is almost inevitable.
What are some other best practices for keeping a bird feeder in a ratty city like Houston, TX?
We recommend taking a few additional steps if you want to keep the birds while losing the rats.
- Switch to a “no waste” seed like hulled sunflower hearts or other no mess blends. The birds eat the whole thing and leave no debris behind, which means rats don’t have as much time to catch and respond to the smell.
- Use a little less feed than you think you might normally want to. You want it all going to the birds.
- Install a wide baffle. A torpedo-style or wide disk baffle on the feeder pole that’s at least 4 feet off the ground and 8 feet off of tree and fence “launch points” can make it harder for rats and squirrels to get at your birdfeed.
- Bring it inside. Put your feeders out during the day, enjoy the birds, and then bring them in every single night. Then sweep the ground beneath. Rats are nocturnal. If the buffet closes by the time they wake up, they’ll go target your neighbor’s yard instead (sorry, Keith).
How quickly can a feeder lead to an infestation?
The transition from yard guest to house guest is fast. A small, uncontrolled birdfeeder hobby in March can result in a full blown structural infestation by May.
Don’t take the chance until you’ve taken precautions.
Protect Your Home from Rats and Squirrels
Ready to protect your home? Contact Elite Wildlife to schedule an inspection! Our team will help you exclude any existing rat and squirrel populations and will block them out for good.
Then your birds can have their feed and eat it too.