I came across this post from one of my favorite rescues about double shepard's hooks hurting animals, and I hadn't heard about this before so I thought I'd share.
Beware of the dangers posed by shepherd's hook bird feeder poles! Every year, rehabilitators rescue countless birds and squirrels that become ensnared in the V- shaped gap between the two hooks. In their frantic attempts to escape, these animals often sustain serious injuries.
You can easily prevent these tragic situations by removing the second hook and opting for a single-hook pole that eliminates any V-shaped joints. Alternatively, consider wrapping the narrow joint with cloth, vet wrap or self-adhering tape (without adhesive) to mitigate risks.
Narrow gaps can become deadly traps for wildlife. Birds and squirrels, eager to reach feeders or other items, can easily get their legs or feet stuck in these tight spaces, resulting in painful injuries or even death. By taking some simple precautions, you can protect the beloved wildlife in your yard from unnecessary harm.
One person in the comments suggested JB Weld as a more permanent solution.
I don't have the hooks, but I always want to keep my bird buddies safe. If you guys use them, you may want to consider critter proofing your hooks.
The hook pictured doesn't seem problematic, but I need to take a look at mine. We have a few, never seen a struggling animal but this bears inspection.
Fences seem to be far more of a problem, for the same reasons.
It doesn't seem to be the most common problem, but I felt it was worth mentioning because I had never heard of this being an issue, but the story originally had a woodpecker that died from getting caught in there.
There are things that we don't consider because we're on a different scale than these small birds. I know I'd be heartbroken if I hurt one of my bird friends while I was trying to do something nice for them.
I got a feeder with metal perches for durability, but I saw people say to consider putting tubing over them to keep anyone from getting stuck feet. The bigger birds took that as a challenge to pull off the bits of tubing every day, but I tried! ๐
A quick hazard check never hurts.
Checked! Yes, my double shepherd's hook does indeed have a sharp "catch". Not using it anyway, I'll take it down for now.
Nice! The world is a little safer for our animal friends!