If you’ve noticed your hummingbird feeder is emptying faster than usual or see the food level going down overnight, something is likely drinking the nectar you’ve put out for your hummers. There are a few common culprits that may be the culprit behind the nighttime nectar theft.
Raccoons
Raccoons are opportunistic feeders and attracted to sugary foods and liquids. They have excellent night vision and nimble paws that can easily remove feeder caps and access the nectar inside. Raccoons will raid feeders at night when hummingbirds are asleep and will greedily drink all the nectar they can reach.
To deter raccoons, bring feeders inside at night or use feeders with cage-like enclosures that prevent access. Only put out small amounts of fresh nectar each day so there’s less to steal overnight. Keep the area around feeders clean to avoid attracting raccoons with leftover drips and spills. Motion-activated lights, sprinklers or sounds may also scare off nighttime raiders.
Bears
Bears have an incredibly strong sense of smell and love sweet treats. If you live in bear country, they can easily pick up the scent of hummingbird nectar and will climb trees, posts and other structures to get to hanging feeders. Bears will damage and destroy feeders and feeding stations in their pursuit of the high-calorie nectar.
To prevent bear damage, take down all feeders at night so there is nothing to attract them. Clean up any spilled nectar and consider planting bee-attracting flowers rather than hanging feeders if you live in high bear traffic areas. Properly store or dispose of trash and recycling so bears aren’t drawn close to your property. If bears become a nuisance, motion-activated lights, noises or water spray deterrents may help.
Bats
Like hummingbirds, bats are skilled aerialists and pollinators. They use echolocation to find food at night and may visit hummingbird feeders. Smaller bats can access nectar through feeder ports and lick nectar from bases and flowers. Larger fruit bats may simply pluck off caps and help themselves.
To stop bats from drinking the nectar, bring feeders inside at night. Use feeders with small perch bars or bee guards that allow hummers access but deter bats. Keep the feeder area clean to avoid attracting insects that bats feed on. Feeders with red nectar are less visible to bats than clear nectar. Ultrasonic deterrents may also help discourage bats.
Moths and other insects
Like hummingbirds, some moths, butterflies and other flying insects are attracted to sugar-rich nectar. They can crawl into feeder ports, stand on flowers or perch on bases to siphon nectar. Large groups can quickly deplete nectar levels overnight.
Use feeders with bee guards or perch bars to limit insect access. Bring feeders indoors at night or switch to types that seal shut. Keep nectar fresh and change it out frequently, as insects are more attracted to old, fermented nectar. Keep the feeder area clean to avoid attracting bugs with drips or spills.
Ants and bees
Ants love sweets and can discover and invade hummer feeders through tiny openings and cracks. They form efficient lines to transport nectar back to their nests. Bees are also strongly attracted to nectar and often find feeders.
Use ant and bee-proof feeders with a protective moat, double seal or screw-on base. Coat poles and hangers with non-stick substances like cooking oil or tape. Change nectar frequently to avoid old nectar that attracts more insects. Clean up any spills or drips that lead a sugary trail to your feeder. Setup deterrents like cinnamon, chili powder or Vaseline on poles and hangers.
Orioles
Some oriole species are known nectar drinkers and may visit hummingbird feeders, especially during migration. Orioles are large, strong birds that can easily remove caps and drain nectar quickly with their large beaks and tongues.
Use feeders with perch bars to make access tricky for orioles. Offer separate fruit juice or jelly feeders specifically for orioles away from your hummingbird nectar feeders. Bring feeders in overnight when orioles are less active. Use red nectar, which orioles may be less drawn to. Cage-like covers can also deter oriole feeder raids.
Other birds
In addition to orioles, other opportunistic birds like woodpeckers, sparrows, finches and robins may also occasionally visit hummingbird feeders. They watch hummingbird patterns and learn to access the nectar when the feeders are unattended.
Use hummingbird-specific feeders with narrow ports and perches. Bring feeders inside at night when most birds are less active. Place feeders in open areas away from structures and trees where other birds perch and observe. Use feeder designs that close or seal off nectar access when not in use by hummingbirds.
Cats
Curious kitties attracted to movement and sound may bat at and play with hanging feeders. Feeders may swing and leak nectar as cats paw at them, making nectar accessible. Night-prowling cats may also learn to associate the feeders with tasty treats.
Hang feeders out of cats’ reach on long poles or hangers so they can’t access or play with them. Use feeder designs that seal shut when not in use. Bring feeders inside at night when cats are most active. Use deterrents like plastic covers, foil pans or double-sided tape on poles or hangers to discourage interest.
Rodents
Mice, rats, chipmunks, squirrels and other small mammals are drawn to sweet nectar, especially if feeders are mounted near structures where they live. They’re agile climbers and can scale poles, wires and trees to reach feeders and chew into bases to access nectar.
Use feeders with chew-resistant ports and base openings. Coat poles and wires with slippery lubricants, adhesive tapes or other barriers. Bring feeders inside overnight when rodents are most active. Use feeder designs that close or seal when unattended by hummingbirds. Keep the feeder area and ground clean to avoid attracting animals looking for leftover drips or drops.
What to do if your hummingbird food is disappearing
To identify the culprit stealing your hummingbird nectar, inspect the feeder for clues like chew marks, claw scratches, missing caps or damage. Watch the feeder at dawn or dusk to try and catch the animal in action. Set up a wildlife camera to monitor activity at night.
Once you know what types of animals are causing the problem, you can take steps to deter and exclude them. Bring feeders in at night, use specialized anti-critter feeder designs, install deterrents and keep the area clean. Providing nectar fresh each day rather than leaving it out 24/7 can also minimize overnight theft. With some adjustments, you can enjoy watching hummers feast while keeping their food safe from bandits.
