I have 2 poles: Lone Star Alamo and a 16 Super Gourd rack. I have 4 1/2 ft. 6" diameter PVC pipe at the bottom of each as a "guard" after snake attacks with the stove pipe style guard. (yes, the stove pipe was installed correctly) Last year I had raccoon attacks to my nearby bluebird house. I never had a raccoon attack to the Alamo or gourd rack, but now I am wondering if the raccoon did decide to check out the martins, could it climb the PVC pipe? We definitely have our share of raccoons and want to be prepared this year!
Thanks! Deb
preparing for raccoons
-
Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6208
- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Deb,
A raccoon might be able to climb the 6 inch PVC. Many landlords use a PVC, homemade guard. Some have had a raccoon bypass it, others have not. A larger diameter pipe might be a better choice, like 8 inch.
I'm sure others will have input for you too. One option you have is to keep the stovepipe guard and add snake netting above it. But whatever you use, installation height for stopping raccoons needs to be 4 ft above ground - that is, top of guard no less than 4 ft above ground.
Louise
A raccoon might be able to climb the 6 inch PVC. Many landlords use a PVC, homemade guard. Some have had a raccoon bypass it, others have not. A larger diameter pipe might be a better choice, like 8 inch.
I'm sure others will have input for you too. One option you have is to keep the stovepipe guard and add snake netting above it. But whatever you use, installation height for stopping raccoons needs to be 4 ft above ground - that is, top of guard no less than 4 ft above ground.
Louise
-
KathyF
- Posts: 3522
- Joined: Thu May 24, 2007 1:57 pm
- Location: Missouri/Licking
- Martin Colony History: Colony started - 2007 with one pair
As of 2018 - 84 cavities offered, max # of pairs hosted - 82.
Deb,
I've used PVC pipe and have not had a racoon breach it - 4' high x 8" wide - make sure you wax the pvc every week or two. It makes it nice & slick.
I started converting to these pole guards as it makes it easier to lower my gourds / houses to a height where I don't need a ladder.
http://purplemartin.org/shop/product_in ... cd35a7d9cb
I've used PVC pipe and have not had a racoon breach it - 4' high x 8" wide - make sure you wax the pvc every week or two. It makes it nice & slick.
I started converting to these pole guards as it makes it easier to lower my gourds / houses to a height where I don't need a ladder.
http://purplemartin.org/shop/product_in ... cd35a7d9cb
"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
-
Guest
I've got an aluminum canister type pole guard on my MPP, and I've not had any problems so far. It tops out at about 3.5 - 4 ft. above ground level.
A question: would it be possible to use a non-conducting / PVC pole guard in conjunction with a miniaturized "electric fence" unit of the type I sometimes see in the big hardware stores? (These units are designed for large gardens, to keep dogs, cats, rabbits, other night time critters out of the vegetable patch. They're nothing near as powerful as the ones designed for cattle etc.)
A question: would it be possible to use a non-conducting / PVC pole guard in conjunction with a miniaturized "electric fence" unit of the type I sometimes see in the big hardware stores? (These units are designed for large gardens, to keep dogs, cats, rabbits, other night time critters out of the vegetable patch. They're nothing near as powerful as the ones designed for cattle etc.)
I would be careful about those cheap fence chargers. Make sure it is a pulsating charger and not a continuous one. I once had a Basenji that apparently got shocked by one of those and tried to bite the wire; it did permanent damage to her neck muscles. If I had been using one of the pulsating types like I now use on my sheep fences, it would not have been a problem.AggieMEEN wrote:
A question: would it be possible to use a non-conducting / PVC pole guard in conjunction with a miniaturized "electric fence" unit of the type I sometimes see in the big hardware stores? (These units are designed for large gardens, to keep dogs, cats, rabbits, other night time critters out of the vegetable patch. They're nothing near as powerful as the ones designed for cattle etc.)
-
Linda Reynolds
- Posts: 1308
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 8:33 pm
- Location: Adamsville, TN
We have witnessed racoons negotiate a length of 5' x 6" pvc that is attached to the bases of our two bird feeding stations. They not only climbed the pvc, but removed the removable bird feeding tray from our covered feeder that is mounted 5' from the ground.
At first we were in doubt that they could actually do this, so we removed all hanging feeders to make sure they were not using the feeders to negotiate the feeding station. After removing all hanging feeders, they still negotiated the 6" pvc.
A feeding station is one thing, but martin poles are another.......
We now use a solar powered fence charger to feed the bases of two martin housing poles in our yard. The system has worked well for us, and we top them both with snake netting to make extra sure nothing will get by the system.
Here is a link to the system that we have used for four years.......Like I said, it has worked well for us........
http://www.horse.com/Fi-Shock-4-Volt-So ... BXW11.html
At first we were in doubt that they could actually do this, so we removed all hanging feeders to make sure they were not using the feeders to negotiate the feeding station. After removing all hanging feeders, they still negotiated the 6" pvc.
A feeding station is one thing, but martin poles are another.......
We now use a solar powered fence charger to feed the bases of two martin housing poles in our yard. The system has worked well for us, and we top them both with snake netting to make extra sure nothing will get by the system.
Here is a link to the system that we have used for four years.......Like I said, it has worked well for us........
http://www.horse.com/Fi-Shock-4-Volt-So ... BXW11.html
Ever-Grateful,
Linda
Linda