How to Control Rats in a Bird Feeder

Rats love birdseed, and they have the ability to scent it out. They are most active at night, climbing trees and fences looking for food. It's important to take the proper precautions with your bird feeder to avoid running into problems with rats.

• Keep your yard cleaned up. Rats are attracted to any garbage or food waste they can find. If they find food in your yard, they will find the bird feeder and hang around.


• Keep your bird feeder at least four feet off the ground. You will want to keep it at least eight feet away from branches, fences, or anything else a rat could climb on. Rats are outstanding climbers.


• Don't overfill your feeder. Use only enough for the birds to eat in one day. Make sure none spills on the ground. Rats will scent it out pretty quickly if you do. This is the single most important step you can take. If needed, use a pan or bucket underneath to catch any overflow.


• Use a squirrel-proof bird feeder. They are designed to keep the bird food from falling on the ground.


• Don't leave any bird food out overnight. Rats are most active during these hours.


• Use a metal or wooden storage. Rats can chew through plastic fairly easily.


• If you end up with a serious rat problem, you can use rat poison. Make sure to take any precautions to avoid poisoning any domestic animals. During this time, you will want to keep any bird food put up to eliminate the problem.