Bird feeders attract colourful birds to your garden – but making one common mistake could invite rats, squirrels and predators instead
Bird feeder mistake could attract rats to your garden(Image: Getty Images)
Making this simple tweak to your bird feeder can get rid of the risk of rats.
Installing a bird feeder in your garden means you’ll likely attract plenty of feathered visitors – but you could also be welcoming some unwanted guests if proper precautions aren’t taken.
Unfortunately, rodents such as rats and squirrels cannot distinguish that the seeds left out for robins or blue tits aren’t meant for them, and will rapidly begin munching on whatever has been provided in your bird feeder.
Practically nobody wants to encourage a colony of rats into their outdoor area, so careful consideration is needed regarding how you use your bird feeder.
Similarly, predators including cats and foxes may be drawn to the provisions in your feeder, potentially resulting in them killing the very birds you’re hoping to watch in your garden.
Often, predators and rodents are lured to your bird feeder because of one very common error – but it’s simple to fix, specialists say.
Rats and mice in the yard can be a total nightmare(Image: Nigel Harris via Getty Images)
The specialists, speaking to Ideal Home, revealed that one significant blunder many people commit with bird feeders occurs even before purchase. Buying one with an inappropriate design can make it readily accessible to rats or squirrels – who are superb climbers – along with cats and foxes.
However, there are plenty of feeders available that are specifically designed to be squirrel or rodent-proof, and these are the ones you should choose if you’re worried that birds aren’t getting their fair share of the food.
“If food is really hard to find in your area,” explains expert Thomas Hibbert from the Wildlife Trust, “you could offer some seeds or suet in a squirrel-proof feeder”.
The best options to purchase are “weight-activated, caged, and domed” bird feeders, if you’re looking to prevent pests or predators from being attracted to your garden.
However, if you’re not willing to splash out on one of these specially designed feeders, then there are a few other alternatives, the experts explain.
Most of the time, squirrels and rats will happily feast on whatever you put out for the birds, but if you introduce a couple of unwelcome ingredients they’ll avoid your feeder.
This includes things like sunflower or niger seeds, which birds love but squirrels are not particularly keen on.
You can also add certain items to your feeder that will smell so unpleasant to squirrels and rats that they won’t go near it.
Garlic, pepper, cayenne pepper, and peppermint are all decidedly off-putting to rodents, so a dash amongst the seeds will have them scarpering.
“While these smells are unappealing to rodents, birds can’t actually taste them, so sprinkling a little cayenne pepper into your bird feeders, for example, will act as an additional deterrent,” the experts assert.
Comments are closed.