Has anyone had problems with critters if you keep it outside? There's a covered area just outside my back door, but I worry about raccoons.
1675159
That is an interesting question. I've had mine outside, and never had problems with animals - but we don't have Raccoons. If this were a problem, you could weight down the lid without any impact to the system. Also, I cut a piece of old carpet the exact diameter of the inside and kept the top (active) layer covered. This kept down problems with white flies, seemed to help keep the moisture in and sped up the composting. I would think it would also reduce any odors that might attract racoons. Just feed the can-o-worms at a steady rate, and the worms will multiply to the right number to keep up. Then there is hardly any odor, and the compost gets quickly devoured. That is an interesting question. I've had mine outside, and never had problems with animals - but we don't have Raccoons. If this were a problem, you could weight down the lid without any impact to the system. Also, I cut a piece of old carpet the exact diameter of the inside and kept the top (active) layer covered. This kept down problems with white flies, seemed to help keep the moisture in and sped up the composting. I would think it would also reduce any odors that might attract racoons. Just feed the can-o-worms at a steady rate, and the worms will multiply to the right number to keep... » Read More That is an interesting question. I've had mine outside, and never had problems with animals - but we don't have Raccoons. If this were a problem, you could weight down the lid without any impact to the system. Also, I cut a piece of old carpet the exact diameter of the inside and kept the top (active) layer covered. This kept down problems with white flies, seemed to help keep the moisture in and sped up the composting. I would think it would also reduce any odors that might attract racoons. Just feed the can-o-worms at a steady rate, and the worms will multiply to the right number to keep up. Then there is hardly any odor, and the compost gets quickly devoured. « Show Less
1675160
No problem with critters; instead, a problem with the dry New Mexico climate. Couldn't keep the worm's soil evenly moist, even with the bins in the shade. I think raccoons would indeed be a problem, but you can defeat them by anchoring the lid down with something--and making sure the legs are stable so the 'coons can't knock the farm over.
1675161
Had mine in my covered breezeway earlier this year when it was warm & had no problems with critters getting into it. Put a large brick on the top to be sure. Of course, where I live is fairly urban with mostly just squirrels & opossums running around. If you want to have it outside & are worried about critters getting into it, I would suggest using straps or bungee cords to secure the lid down. That should keep them out unless they take a mind to gnaw through them.
1804911
I doubt it. Raccoons are a unique problem in that they seem to be very smart. I was not able to keep them out of my orchard of apple trees even though I had multiple strands of electric fence wire starting just above the ground and going up to a couple of feet above the ground. I have no idea how they managed to keep getting in but they did and got or ruined about 50% of my apple crop.
874135
I used to hear critters in my house, all over the place. I bought this by the end of last summer and it has been plugged in ever since. We never have trouble with them in the wintertime so I could not tell if it was working or not. I am so pleased with this product because we have not had any critters this spring, which is when the activity used to be really bad. We have no critters in our house !! I would say it does work through walls !!!! I would definitely try it out. It worked for us ! Good luck.
1354028
I would not leave it outside if you have raccoons, they will be able to smell the food and will attack! I had to bolt mine down so my cat would stop trying to open it, which is as annoying as it sounds and would result in spilled food when it sprung open sideways or upside down or would be wedged somewhere so it wouldn't open at all.
428271
I live in wooded area in northern MN. Lots of squirrels attracted to squirrel-proof bird feeders... Squirrels crawl up over warm engine blocks of vehicles parked jusr outside of garage doors. nibble on electrical wire coverings and heater components. Very expensive repairs... I purchased POBD-1-02 several weeks ago, plugged it into garage wall socket, and all squirrels immediately disappeared from my yard! Now, several weeks after I installed the pest control unit in my garage, I saw squirrels in both my front and backyard bird feeders. Unplugged and moved pest control unit to new closer wall location, squirrels didn't leave... Please advise...
901663
You can take it apart. We live near woods and have raccoons in the area and have not had a problem
623587
I think it would be ok but I would not let the raccoon watch you when you get food out...they are very smart! We had scooter years ago and it got out of his cage and disappeared. We always suspected my husband lol but he never would fess up!
871899
I would say YES. We have raccoons in our area and they didn't get in. Only drawback is it's not that large.
1588518
We live next to a wildlife refuge and are inundated with fox, raccoons, etc. and have never had a problem. The latch system that closes it is similar to what might be on a toolbox - you hook a metal loop over at protrusion and them push down the lever to secure - don't think even the clevest raccoon could manage that and the plastic is thick and off the ground so they'd have a hard time chewing through. We've had ours for about 2 years (even order a second one) and have never had a problem.
2242708
I tend to agree with the others. This pistol shoots small plastic pellets and the velocity is quite low. It may be enough to annoy a raccoon and get them to leave you alone, but fussing at them with a stick would do just as well. I've not encountered a raccoon or similar critter that was any more eager to have a close encounter than I was. If it's a rabid animal, I certainly wouldn't trust my safety to this item, which is essentially a toy that shoots plastic BBs via a spring-loaded mechanism. As Alan Cranford says, there are other effective ways to handle critters short of a firearm, and it's not a bad idea to keep at least a .22LR around just in case. I tend to agree with the others. This pistol shoots small plastic pellets and the velocity is quite low. It may be enough to annoy a raccoon and get them to leave you alone, but fussing at them with a stick would do just as well. I've not encountered a raccoon or similar critter that was any more eager to have a close encounter than I was. If it's a rabid animal, I certainly wouldn't trust my safety to this item, which is essentially a toy that shoots plastic BBs via a spring-loaded mechanism. As Alan Cranford says, there are other effective ways to handle critters short of a firearm, and... » Read More I tend to agree with the others. This pistol shoots small plastic pellets and the velocity is quite low. It may be enough to annoy a raccoon and get them to leave you alone, but fussing at them with a stick would do just as well. I've not encountered a raccoon or similar critter that was any more eager to have a close encounter than I was. If it's a rabid animal, I certainly wouldn't trust my safety to this item, which is essentially a toy that shoots plastic BBs via a spring-loaded mechanism. As Alan Cranford says, there are other effective ways to handle critters short of a firearm, and it's not a bad idea to keep at least a .22LR around just in case. « Show Less
292274
This has worked for raccoons for us. We have one of those "squirrel-proof" green bird feeders that has the flap across the front that closes with too much weight on the perch. The raccoons would climb up over the back of the feeder, lay flat across the top, and empty it every night. We bought this baffle, and the first night, we heard them trying to get around it. The next morning, the baffle was covered with muddy raccoon prints all the way around it for about 1 foot up, but the bird seed was untouched. Now, if I could only figure out a way to get rid of the grackles...
730431
Yes, it got rid of my raccoons anyway. They were defecating on our waterfall. I put the scarecrow on one side aiming for the waterfall. I didn't get any more "deposits" for at least 2 weeks. Then I noticed a "deposit" on the other side (out of scarecrow's reach) next to the waterfall. I almost bought an extra one but thought about it first and tried a clever and cheaper route. I moved the scarecrow to the side...The raccoons therefore THOUGHT I had scarecrows on both sides and thusly avoided both sides due to paranoid conditioned response. It's been a couple of months and no more "surprises".
608775
Honestly, I take my bird feeder down every night, so I haven't had any nocturnal visitors. I saw a suggestion to put oil on the rod to deter squirrels. I've seen 2 squirrels at different times on their way to the feeder, but I told them it wasn't for them, so they hopped off the fence and didn't try again. Strange story, but true.
1724637
Critters will definitely chew through this. I bought 2 of these to keep outside with bird feed (near the feeders). I made sure it was shut tight. Eventually I found that they chew through the top where the lid meets the body... one by one they destroyed the containers. I can't say what kind of animal chewed through... I'm guessing it was raccoons, since it seemed to always happen in the evening (and the footprints left on snowy ground).
730433
haven't had a Raccoon show up that I know. Did have a Badger roll through and the sound ran him off.
2213673
It seems to be raccoon proof. Living on an acreage surrounded by woods, we used to have raccoons get into our garage frequently, when we just had a regular cat door. We have been using the Cat Mate door for nearly a year, and are thrilled that we have not had a raccoon (or possum, or stray Tomcat) able to get into the garage. We are even able to constantly leave dry catfood in a self-feeder for our 6 cats, and they are the only animals able to reach it!! We are so happy with this product.
944493
I have them to protect my chickens. I have had no problems with critters. It's suggested you put the predator at the level shown on the instructions for the particular critters size. The Predadtor was recommended to me by a friend who uses them to protect goats from coyotes. He swears by it. He has 4. Me, all I can say is no problems with the possum or raccoon who got 3 of my chickens BEFORE the Predator. It has blinking red lights. I plan on buying a few more. They work up to a clear distance of 1/2 mile. I'd get them again. It's worth the try