Petroleum Jelly

I think I may have found a solution to my thief problem. I had racoons climbing the pole and stealing my bird feeders. I put petroleum jelly on the pole in hopes of preventing them from being able to climb it. My bird feeders haven't been messed with since but it's only been a couple days. My question is does anyone know if the jelly has any bad side effects or if it will attract other pests?

An article I read recently stated that tasting petroleum jelly would have no effects but large quantities could cause vomiting, diarrhea and intestinal obstructions. Also, inhaling it could cause a condition called lipid pneumonia. It's caused from inhaling the fats in it.

I would use caution with it around animals.

my cats eat petrolrum jelly. It is flamable

Thanks for the info. I just put enough on it to make it too slick to climb, so I don't think there is enough to eat a large quantity and really make them sick. I don't like the raccoons, but don't want to poison them. It is outside and well ventilated, so I don't think they will really be able to inhale it that much.
My bird feeders made it through another night unharmed!
My dog eats lotion, pets will eat strange things.

xMelissax, I also read that you can put cyanne pepper in bird seed to deter squirrels and such but birds will still eat it and it won't hurt them.

My dog eats furniture and baseboards.

My dog often gets caught dining in the cat's litter box. It's gross.

One of my dogs ate two pounds of candy, including a 12 oz bag of Hershey's kisses, foil and all and topped it off with 11 glass Christmas ornaments including the aluminium hangers. She is a living breathing garbage disposal with food issues....oh, a Beagle. grin

I know how that is! This past Christmas was our dog's first. She had a fascination with the ornaments. Her droppings outside were so reflective from the glass bulbs she could have blinded a 747 pilot. She eats toads, lizards, caterpillars, Squirrels, anything she can find amusing to stuff in her mouth and swallow, yet never has she once cut her self or anything. She is a anatomic marvel! A machine I tell you! Don't even get me started on balloons!

Dan your dog may have just mastered the art of re-cycling

Sounds like Sophie, Dan. She has a stainless high grade steel alimentary canal. One pipe, no loops. Grin

Ha ha ha, and to think, Garbage companies spend millions on trash grinders when all the need is a team of dogs like ours, they will work for free too!

I just hope bathing is part of the contract....Sophie can really "get into her food" Grin

A must! If Bailey starts to smell, looks dirty, or starts shedding... I give her a nice bath with oatmeal shampoo. Makes her smell good, gives her a shiny coat, and keeps her from shedding for a while. So basically every week (she is an inside dog so the only time she really gets dirty is if I let her out after it has rained)

My guys are inside for the most part. They have a fenced area off the patio to play in, but when I take them for walks or let them run in the rest of the yard, she always finds something "fun" to play with (usually dead) I have 3 cats also, and they are murder on moles...literally. grin