Danger near the bird feeder? K-State wildlife expert urges caution

K-State Research and Extension Information Service

Bird feeders are a great way to enjoy nature without leaving your porch, and many homeowners understand the joys of seeing multiple species of birds frequenting feeders.

But Drew Ricketts, a wildlife specialist at Kansas State University, said bird feeders can also attract predators and other wildlife to your yard.

For example, raccoons are seven times more likely to enter the yard and deer are twice as likely if you have a bird feeder.

“Carnivores, like coyotes, red foxes and those kinds of creatures, are at least one and a half times more likely to be found in yards with bird feeders,” Ricketts said.

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“Many times people inadvertently attract critters into the yard, which can cause problems that have nothing to do with the bird feeder. One of the things I would suggest to these people is to think about how they could contribute to this situation by having food available in the yard. » Ricketts said.

At least once a year, Ricketts said he gets a call from people wanting to know how to get rid of a hawk that's hanging around their yard and preying on birds. He said nothing could be done because an increase in the number of prey species often leads to an increase in the number of predator species.

“Feeding birds is something people do for themselves and it can have unintended negative consequences.” » Ricketts said.

According to Ricketts, bird feeders allow predators such as domestic cats and hawks to take advantage of the condensed hunting grounds around the feeder.

Although we worry about birds going hungry during the winter, feeding birds can also have unintended consequences for those who eat them.

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According to Ricketts, birds do not need to be fed in winter. A study examining the reproductive performance of birds showed that birds fed in winter gave birth to chicks that weighed less and had a lower survival rate than birds that did not have access to feeders.

Ricketts said the concentration of birds in an area around a feeder can also provide a hotspot for parasites and disease. Two examples of scientific studies show an increase in diseases such as avian pox and infections by lice and mites.

For those who want to keep birds, Ricketts suggests washing bird feeders thoroughly every 24 hours with 10 percent bleach and rinsing them well to remove the bleach smell.

More information about managing common wildlife in Kansas is available online at K-State Research and Extension.