Does anyone have any thoughts on keeping deer out away from a bird feeder and out of my yard without also driving away squirrels and rabbits? I don't begrudge squirrels and rabbits, and like them somewhat, but despise deer. Deer eat bird food like a vacuum cleaner and poop in the yard.
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Keeping deer away
- Thread starter lostone
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WAB
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Have a lifesize cardboard cut out of Ted Nugent in your yard?
Elixir
Made in America
Hang the feeder higher. I have mine above bear height, which is a couple feet higher than deer height. Deer standing on their hind legs can reach 6-7 feet, and my feeder is set a little over 9’, so I have to climb the tree a couple of tall steps to re-fill it. I screwed a 1x2 to the trunk of the tree to make it easier… so far no bears or deer, but some critter did manage to take the feeder down once a couple years ago. I suspect a raccoon.
I've tried hanging it on a tree limb, about seven feet high, but they jump up and knock it down. Maybe nine feet would do the trick. A fence is not practical, either.
bilby
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That's a dumb idea. Most birds are far smaller than 6' tall. Are you only planning to attract ostriches and cassowaries??
Elixir
Made in America
Our smaller birds know how to climb trees, duh.
bilby
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thebeave
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Around here, people sometimes use motion activated "Rain Bird" style sprinklers to keep the deer (and other animals) away. They seem to work. Here's one example:
Orbit 62100 Yard Enforcer Motion-Activated Sprinkler
Orbit 62100 Yard Enforcer Motion-Activated Sprinkler
Elixir
Made in America
The cassowaries will take care of that.
bilby
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Bloody oath. Those things are terrifying.
WAB
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bilby
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Yeah, if there was any doubt that birds are just dinosaurs, the cassowary should dispel that doubt.View attachment 50868
Angels and ministers of grace defend us! Looks like something out of Lovecraft.
The problem is that I don't want to keep rabbits and squirrels away
I'm sure that those huge cassowaries would keep deer away from the bird feeder. Hell's bells, those lethal bastards would even keep me away from the bird feeder. Alas, we have no such big birds around here, and I'm sure the neighbors would fuss at me if I got us one or two of those big birds. OTOH, mountain lions and wolves, which we do have in North America, would also do the trick, and regard deer as tasty food. Again, those fussy neighbors of mine would not tolerate me introducing a wolf pack or a mountain lion into our neighborhood.Yeah, if there was any doubt that birds are just dinosaurs, the cassowary should dispel that doubt.View attachment 50868
Angels and ministers of grace defend us! Looks like something out of Lovecraft.
The problem is that I don't want to keep rabbits and squirrels away
I'm sure that those huge cassowaries would keep deer away from the bird feeder. Hell's bells, those lethal bastards would even keep me away from the bird feeder. Alas, we have no such big birds around here, and I'm sure the neighbors would fuss at me if I got us one or two of those big birds. OTOH, mountain lions and wolves, which we do have in North America, would also do the trick, and regard deer as tasty food. Again, those fussy neighbors of mine would not tolerate me introducing a wolf pack or a mountain lion into our neighborhood.Yeah, if there was any doubt that birds are just dinosaurs, the cassowary should dispel that doubt.View attachment 50868
Angels and ministers of grace defend us! Looks like something out of Lovecraft.
