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Red Pepper Flakes as squirrel deterrent at your feeders (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Transformer
- Start date
Hi Dave.danehower said:
I am still singing the praises of the hot pepper suet and thankfully, my raccoons have not found it or if they have, don't find it all that appealing as it is lasting so much longer than when the squirrels feasted on it. The birds absolutely love it. I found a great supplier here that ships it free so it is actually cheaper than in the big box stores.
Transformer said:
I tried it and it worked on squirrels but it killed my eyes when i cleaned the feeders and did not work against the clever raccons. the best deterent for squirrels I have found is making sure they have their own, always full, private feeding stations with corn cobs and roasted peanuts. I still have to grease a few poles and put up a few baffles but I have not lost a feeder to the squirrels since and now I get to watch the buggers bog on my squngee HEHE
PLuss havig them around tends to bring in a few ofthe larger hawks for me to get a good look at
I'm not a big fan of the pepper solution. I've heard of squirrels touching it, then rubbing their eyes and screaming in pain.
There are so many effective baffles which are a lot less trouble than adding pepper.
I have a blog with some squirrel-proofing tips that might be helpful:
http://squirrelproofbirdfeedertips.blogspot.com/
There are so many effective baffles which are a lot less trouble than adding pepper.
I have a blog with some squirrel-proofing tips that might be helpful:
http://squirrelproofbirdfeedertips.blogspot.com/
Miamiflash
Well-known member
I have laced the seed with freshly ground hot peppers, I have sprayed commercial squirrel repellants, I have put out a separate food supply just for them.... and the only thing that has ever worked is getting (or making) a little cloth drawstring bag and filling it with mothballs and cat fur (I have 2 indoor cats, so that supply is unlimited!) and hanging the little bags on the tops of the feeders. The downside is that the bags' contents have to be refilled after each rain (the mothballs melt and wash away, and I guess the cat dander does, too). You should see how they recoil and leap as far away as possible when they catch a whiff! And no, it doesn't affect the birds one little bit. They don't even seem to notice (only initially when I first hang the bag, because it's something new, but after a few minutes, no problem).
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Transformer
Well-known member
This is one of the dumbest urban legends I have ever heard.
Transformer
Well-known member
Good to know! Thanks for the tip. I think I considered the moth ball solution many moons ago but never tried it. I don't have cats, but I do know that when my dog was alive, we NEVER had squirrel problems!!!!
Hi, I'm new
Squirrels in my bird feeders drive me nuts. I've just tried mixing 2 tsp. of cayenne pepper (not the flakes) into two cups of bird seed (mixed it around) and watched a squirrel eat a bunch, wet himself and drag his mouth across the deck. He hasn't been back! The birds are all over the feeder and don't seem bothered at all. Paprika isn't hot enough and that is maybe why it didn't work. Try cayenne pepper.
Squirrels in my bird feeders drive me nuts. I've just tried mixing 2 tsp. of cayenne pepper (not the flakes) into two cups of bird seed (mixed it around) and watched a squirrel eat a bunch, wet himself and drag his mouth across the deck. He hasn't been back! The birds are all over the feeder and don't seem bothered at all. Paprika isn't hot enough and that is maybe why it didn't work. Try cayenne pepper.
This is why the birds can eat the strongest capsaicin out with out feeling a thing.....
Birds are not affected by "capsaicin" - the active ingredient in chilli peppers. Research has shown that there is no evidence that birds code capsaicin as an irritant at concentrations as high as 20,000 ppm (the hottest chilli is about 2,000 ppm). Mammals, such as squirrels and rats, reject capsaicin concentrations as low as 1-10 ppm
The reason behind it is evolutionary....Most botanists and ornithologists believe that chilli peppers evolved this way so that small mammals would avoid the hot taste, while birds freely eat the pungent pepper pod thereby resulting in wider ranging dispersal of the seeds to ensure the natural growth and long term survival of the chilli pepper plant.
Chilli pepper seeds consumed by birds pass through the digestive tract unharmed, whereas those consumed by mammals do not germinate at all. The presence of capsaicin in the fruits therefore protects them from being consumed by mammals, which have molars that can kill seeds.
Studies show that mammals, including squirrels, have receptors on the tongue and in the mouth that react to chilli peppers by sending heat signals to the brain. Although there's no actual damage, the sensation makes it seem as though the mouth is on fire (much the same as ourselves). Birds lack the receptors that make chewing chilli peppers such an eye-watering experience for mammals -- they can eat peppers all day long and never feel a thing!
Birds are not affected by "capsaicin" - the active ingredient in chilli peppers. Research has shown that there is no evidence that birds code capsaicin as an irritant at concentrations as high as 20,000 ppm (the hottest chilli is about 2,000 ppm). Mammals, such as squirrels and rats, reject capsaicin concentrations as low as 1-10 ppm
The reason behind it is evolutionary....Most botanists and ornithologists believe that chilli peppers evolved this way so that small mammals would avoid the hot taste, while birds freely eat the pungent pepper pod thereby resulting in wider ranging dispersal of the seeds to ensure the natural growth and long term survival of the chilli pepper plant.
Chilli pepper seeds consumed by birds pass through the digestive tract unharmed, whereas those consumed by mammals do not germinate at all. The presence of capsaicin in the fruits therefore protects them from being consumed by mammals, which have molars that can kill seeds.
Studies show that mammals, including squirrels, have receptors on the tongue and in the mouth that react to chilli peppers by sending heat signals to the brain. Although there's no actual damage, the sensation makes it seem as though the mouth is on fire (much the same as ourselves). Birds lack the receptors that make chewing chilli peppers such an eye-watering experience for mammals -- they can eat peppers all day long and never feel a thing!
I used capsaicin about a year ago and it worked well.
Since then, I tried hot pepper flakes and they didn't work at all.
I recently tried buying some "squirrel proof" birdseed that is pretreated with capsaicin. The squirrels munched on some of it the first day. However, they now leave it alone so I can spread it out on my bird table where the sparrows and mourning doves enjoy it - but not the cardinals, finches, bluejays, etc. I suspect the seeds in the mix don't appeal to most birds.
Niki
Since then, I tried hot pepper flakes and they didn't work at all.
I recently tried buying some "squirrel proof" birdseed that is pretreated with capsaicin. The squirrels munched on some of it the first day. However, they now leave it alone so I can spread it out on my bird table where the sparrows and mourning doves enjoy it - but not the cardinals, finches, bluejays, etc. I suspect the seeds in the mix don't appeal to most birds.
Niki
Hi Nikki,
yes it does work doesn't it, my friend used chili pepper (extra hot) for mice and it worked straight away, how ever you have to get it right, as you already know.
I would say you have to put a decen amount on to cover the seed then it works. there is no way a mammal could be tolerant to high contents of capsaicin.
I think some wild birdfood retailers actually sell capsaicin to mix with bird food too. I've not seen the seed already with the mix on, but its a great idea and would be a god seller I imagine. Mind you I've proberly not seen it as I've not been looking for it.
Kind regards
