Article: Fixit; Safflower seed may not discourage raccoons.(VARIETY)

Q: In a recent column you suggested putting safflower seeds in a bird feeder to stop raiding squirrels. Does that work for raccoons, too?

A: Probably not. Raccoons eat practically anything and are pretty good at getting into a variety of feeders, said Vivian Neiger of Wild Birds Unlimited in Minnetonka. The good news is that raccoons usually are inactive in winter. They need to conserve energy and their favorite foods are generally not available, so they go into a state of semi-deep sleep. It's not a true hibernation and on warm winter days you might see one ambling sluggishly around. For the most part, however, raccoons will not be a winter bird-feeder pest.

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