7 replies to this topic

[JimBob]

Right now I have lots of mammals visiting my feeder. Two are pests. Two are annoying. Two are cute, and don't eat much.

The pests are a lone deer. And a coon. The coon is an easy fix; bring the feeder in at night. But the deer is coming in broad daylight. Shes not afraid of humans. I've scared her once by chasing her. And another time I threw a stick at her and she just walked off. So is there any way to stop her?

The annoying ones are Squirrels and Mice. When I bring in my feeders at night I put them in the garage. Then the mice eat out of the. . .

The two nice ones are Rabbits and Chipmunks.

[Parula]

I put my feeders on very high poles so the deer cant reach them, then i put a downward facing cone on the pole so the squirrels and coons cant get up to the feeder. the only problem then is the bears but they have only knocked over the feeders once.

[hawkhenries]

You might consider a diversion feeder for the deer. Find out what food it likes and make a feeding station away from the bird feeders. Yep a little more work and expense but you may find after awhile that you like having her around. She may return some year with fawns...
They really are beautiful Good luck!!

[dklucius]

here the local rose society reccomends a homemade pepper spray of either hot sause and water or ground hot peppers and water and spray the flowers. they claim the birds and butterflys and bees don't seem to be bothered by the spray but the deer and rabbitts and chipmonks don't like the hot stuff and it keeps them away

[threeofhardts]

I don't have anything to add to what the others have posted, I'm just chuckling to myself at the thought of you chasing her and tossing sticks!

The grackles and starlings are the ones eating me out of house and home this year. They've been awful. The seed in the feeders don't last more than a few hours and they polish off a suet cake in less than one day.

[fisherman1313]

I've scared her once by chasing her.

You want to be careful doing that. She could turn on you and I've heard those hooves can do some serious damage.

[JimBob]

those hooves can do some serious damage.

Yeah. . . I wont chase her anymore. . . or when I do have a tree close to me!

If I had an income, I would feed her stuff. But since my mom is the paying for all wild animal food, and she is already not happy how much the birds eat. . . I don't think I can feed her. I think she is partially blind, because she doesn't notice you until you are very close. Then she normally doesn't bother to leave. I guess I will have to stick with throwing sticks. . .

[JimBob]

Well even after having the feeders down for a week while I was at summer camp she is still coming to the yard, and coming to the feeders. She hasn't come when I wasn't around. . . so all good.