Which is the best predator guard?

[KaraInTexas]

Hello all! I am new here and have a lot of Martins visiting my sad excuse for a Martin house (I had probably 12 of them circling the other day - noisy lil buggers!). I will order new housing this holiday season.

In the interim, on the off chance that a Martin may actually bestow a baby or two on my property (one can dream), I am in the market for a predator guard. My neighbor insists we do not have snakes "none that i've seen". Sure. Right. They come out at night. Hello.

Anyway, I am however worried about raccoons. I have seen one, maybe two, in my 13 years living at my home. But as the saying goes, I would rather have the guard and not need it than need it and not have it.

So I look to you seasoned veterans for advice on how best to protect my beautiful songbirds. I have a telescoping pole, so I will need to remove the guard with ease. Again, just starting so will have to wait for the super-cool winch pulley pole system. Can't we all be independently wealthy?

Look forward to hearing from you...

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

The very best is an electric fence charger. It is used over the bottom 2 ft of the pole, or near that, it will prevent any animal or any snake from going up the pole if it is attached so that they must touch both wires at the same time.

Another good method is to use 4ft of pvc pipe over the pole. Any size pvc pipe from 4in on up will stop about 99% of the racoons, and all the snakes. There is a disadvantage to this method in that its hard to nestcheck the housing, as you may need a stepladder.

[Luv Ya Purple]

The best probably is an electric pole guard, some one on here should be able to tell you how to make one. I use netting (for snakes) and a metal baffle or duct(for all). I wrap the netting two or three feet above the metal baffle around the pole. Try to get the netting at least 5 or 6 inches away from the pole so that the snake has to crawl through the netting not over it. Get the netting with 3/4 inch holes(for bigger snakes) and 1/2 inch holes for (smaller snakes). Place smaller netting on top of bigger netting. The metal baffle is duct I got at a hardware store, mine I think is 7" diameter 24 inches long, but they do sell a 10" diameter which is better. Make sure the bottom of the baffle is two feet off the ground and the top is four feet high. Make sure on the outside of the metal baffle is slick so that the snake or raccoon can't grip on. You can even use a pvc type pipe at least 6" diameter that is at least four feet long and closed at the top. You should be able to find instructions on here on how to make these guards. Leave no gaps larger than 1/4 inch or a small snake can make it passed. Try to think like a snake or the predator and you should be able to stop them. I didn't even get into owl and hawk protection, but that can be put on later when you get them to nest. I'm fairly certain you have snakes and don't take the chance. Do what you are supposed to do and put on predator protection.

[warbird]

I use the Ez off with snake sniffers it 9-3/4" dy 24" place it wherever you want on the pole [as long as the top is at least4 feet]and easy to take off. Be cheaper to make your own

[KaraInTexas]

Thanks to all for the quick responses. I have my house on a telescoping pole attached to my fence post. So it is really high in the air, but attached to my fence post. I am already on a 6 foot ladder to do nest checks daily. Difficulty level 10 when trying to install effective predator guards.

I will check into the electrification (is that a word?) of the pole. However, that sounds a bit high tech. I have a 10 year-old boy as well and a German Shepherd dog. I don't want anyone harmed in the making of this predator guard.

I am also going to also check into the EZ off with snake sniffers. That just sounds interesting.

I will definitely put up some netting. Darn snakes are crafty. Will be ready for them though.

I just spent about an hour out in my backyard with my neighbor learning how to shoot a bb gun. Made a hot mess of some miller lite cans. Sparrows beware.

Thanks again! Enjoy your evenings and may the Martins be with you.

[KaraInTexas]

Hey Warbird-Joe:

I just googled "EZ off snake sniffers"

Um - what the heck is that? Please advise. Thanks!

[KaraInTexas]

Emil:

If my kiddo touched the bottom 2 feet of the pole would it electrocute him? I am sure google could assist me with this query but you probably know from personal experience and I would rather hear from someone who has tried the product.

Thanks!

[Forum Admin]

Kara, an electric predator guard will 'zap' but not electrocute kids, dogs, etc - snakes and raccoons included!
What size and shape pole do you have? PMCA's shop has guards for each type: https://www.purplemartin.org/shop/
All have ventilated tops, holes covered with screen, to encourage predators like snakes to keep going up the pole inside the guard - snake sniffers is another name for that style guard.

You might want something simpler, a removable guard, but it will depend on the pole you are using.

[warbird]

Emil:

If my kiddo touched the bottom 2 feet of the pole would it electrocute him? I am sure google could assist me with this query but you probably know from personal experience and I would rather hear from someone who has tried the product.

Thanks!

yes not the pole but the wire. if your dog or predator shorts it out on pole it will quite. has to be built right

[Tim Mangan-Kansas]

Kara:
I agree with everything Emil stated. I only have room for one martin pole at my residence. I have a 4' piece of 6" PVC at the bottom of my pole with a tree netting snake trap at the top of the PVC. I also have it "electrified" to ward off any ground predators. Here is a pic of pole. The outer 2"x4" wire is to keep our dog from touching the electric wire. I am no electrician! I had no trouble installing the electric fencing and it worked the first time I plugged it in.



You stated your pole was beside a fence post. Keep in mind, a snake, raccoon or even a squirrel or cat could access your pole from the top of the fence circumventing a ground predator guard. When you get your new pole, I would suggest moving it at least 6' away from your fence.

[Craig Dyer]

My two cents...I have used the cylindrical pole guards sold on the PMCA website for over ten years. I have never experienced rat snake, possum, or raccoon predation. I live in rural north Texas and we have an abundance of all three of those critters.

[Okie]

Craig is yours the quick release? If not does it make you use a ladder to do nest checks?
Thanks

[Craig Dyer]

Okie,

I use the Quick Release Pole Guard for 2" Square Pole. It is easy to put in place & remove.

[Okie]

That is what I am thinking of getting. Thanks for your comments. Good to know it works well for you & you like it.

[KaraInTexas]

I have martin eggs. Need to figure out predator guard situation. Didn't anticipate eggs already as this is only year two.

I have a 1 and 1/2 inch round pole, two actually. One is telescoping. I have put up a cone shaped predator guard only. Will the removable cylindrical predator guard work on round, or just square?

Thanks and cheers.

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

An electric fence charger will not kill or injure the snakes, racoons, kids, dogs, people, etc. The reason is that the voltage is high, the current is extremely low. Voltage will zap you, a high current can kill anything, but keep in mind that a fence charger has an extremely low current. Anything that touches will get zapped with the high voltage, but it will make you remember to NOT TOUCH it (it improves your memory, smile), but it will not hurt you (unless you CONTINUOUSLY TOUCH it. Nobody will continuously touch it, I guarantee you)

[Luv Ya Purple]

From what i have seen the last two seasons when egg laying starts the snakes come... I caught about a 3 1/2 foot rat snake the other morning in some netting wrapped around the pole.

Looks like there is a removable guard for the round poles.

[KaraInTexas]

Emil:

Where do I get the electric fence zapper? Lowes?

[detioh11]

TSC (Tractor Supply Company) has electric fencers. If you have any of those near you. Any Farm supply store will have them.

[KaraInTexas]

Will google closest one. Thank you.