I was finding ants getting into my hummingbird feeder that was hung on a shepard's hook. They apparently climbed up the pole and into the food. I took shipping tape and tied it with string around the post (with sticky side out) starting at the bottom. I went about 12 inches up the pole.
I also put a Terro ant bait trap on the ground so they would be busy eating and not climb up. However, if they did climb up they'd get stuck. Also, fly bait that comes in a long paper strip that is sticky on both sides would work fantastic too. You'd just wrap it around the post and it should stick with no string. This tip is an amazing idea.
By Little Suzy from Millbury, OH
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This may seem like a good idea but here in Georgia, and many other places in the south, we have lots of little lizards and frogs. Several years ago I tried yellow sticky pads for white flies with horrible results.
I posted this in response to a previous comment about using packaging tape as a way to keep ants out of a hummingbird feeder. Please pardon me for reposting here, but I noted the comment about using fly paper and thus I would like to repeat my prior caution. I worked at a wildlife rehabilitation center. A wren was brought to us one day completely featherless. He had become stuck to flypaper and literally every little feather he had was removed from his body in his struggles to free himself. It seems people have been lucky in that no birds have become stuck to their packaging tape or flypaper, but please take this into consideration before you use these methods to deter ants. Thanks!
I sure agree with you about not using any kind of anything on feeders that is sticky. I too love these little hummingbirds and for many years I've watched them, and something even these tiny
Ha ha. This works! Put the tape on and watched those ants get so frustrated when they encountered it
I don't like the fly paper because the flys get stuck and they struggle and their wings and legs tear off and I can't help but think they are suffering. I don't have an idea to replace it, but can't stand to see anything suffer
Please do not use tape near a hummingbird feeder. During my research and field research, I have encountered more than one hummingbird with most of its feathers gone because they had come in contact with tape. Therefore, they did not survive. An ant moat can be purchased very cheap. Please NO VASELINE. Please please do not spray your feeders with Pam spray. Don't put any oils, Vicks Vapor Rub, Pam Cooking Spray, Duct Tape, Off, Skin-so-soft, or Vaseline on your hummingbird feeder. These may work slightly.
Butterflies have not bothered it. Sorry if do not feel it's a good idea, but it works for me. The shipping tape it not that strong to trap critters. It's for ants and that's what it's doing; stopping ants from invading the hummingbird feeders.
I found that using on ointment called "Butt Paste" at rhe very top of the hook works great and won't hard the birds.
This tip could be dangerous for the birds as they could get stuck in the tape
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