Search Results for: dealing with predators

  • How can I discourage predators from accessing my nest boxes?

    The best way to guard against predators is to mount the box on a smooth, slippery pole and to install a predator guard or baffle on that pole. Galvanized pipe or PVC pipe are both slippery, smooth surfaces that most…

  • Why did my nest fail?

    Nests can fail for a variety of reasons. Typically, unfavorable environmental conditions, chemical use, predator presence, and limits on food availability are the most common causes of nest mortality. Our Nest Box Troubleshooting Guide may also be helpful in determining…

  • nest box on a tree with the guard installed, and a snake nearby; illustrated
    How to Protect Tree-Mounted Nest Boxes from Snakes

    Most predator guards that prevent climbing predators are built for nest boxes that are mounted on poles. New research supports the effectiveness of a simple DIY predator guard meant to deter snakes from tree-mounted boxes.

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  • The face of a gray ratsnake peeks out from under a wooden structure.
    NestWatch Data Aid in Snake Study

    The latest research paper to include NestWatch data is not your average avian study. Your data contributions were recently put to use in an examination of gray ratsnake climbing behavior. The study authors were interested in which factors correlate with ratsnake climbing forays, and they wondered if the timing of nests (and thus a seasonal abundance of eggs and nestlings) was an influence.