Squirrels and cayenne pepper (1 Viewer)

[Sadie Hawkins]

I am new to the forum. Is it common for squirrels to get used to cayenne pepper? It doesn’t seem to phase them. Is there anything else I can use besides physical barriers?

 

[Kits]

Welcome to Birdforum.

I found cayenne pepper or chilli powder and the like had no effect whatsoever on squirrels. I think physical barriers are the only solution.

 

[Lisa W]

Hi Sadie Hawkins, welcome to the forum on behalf of the staff and moderators. I think you will find us a friendly and helpful group.
Some people swear by putting capsaicin in the food as a deterrent, others don’t think it works. A good physical barrier might be the best solution.

 

[Lerxst]

The pepper did not deter our hungry Minnesota squirrels, at least not in the winter, which is the only time we put out bird seed. The pepper repulsed them at first, but after a few days they learned to tolerate it. We had an arms race, and they won: eventually I was putting tabasco sauce on the seeds and I could see their little whiskers turning red from it but they ate it anyway. Squirrels 1, Humans 0.

 

[Montereyman]

I am new to the forum. Is it common for squirrels to get used to cayenne pepper? It doesn’t seem to phase them. Is there anything else I can use besides physical barriers?

What works is to have feed for the birds that the squirrels do not like and or having feeders that block access of which there are many available like the Squirrel Busters.

Having feeders mounted on a 5 ft post and using a squirrel baffle can also be effective but is not fool proof. I have had squirrels leap down 15 feet to land on a feeder or jump over the baffle (when there is bare pole above the baffle). I hung on a thin string a plastic globe with sunflower seeds and one day looked out to see a squirrel hanging from the branch with its hind feet and then pulling up the string with its front paws. I have felt at times that I was helping to develop smarter squirrels with my efforts.

 

[Fritz73]

Hola! Welcome to Birdforum

 

[Chris G6 UXU]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

 

[Thrupenney Bit]

I used to hang a peanut feeder and tube seed feeder from a tree in my garden, hanging by an 'S' hanger immediately onto the branch.
It was a daily attraction for Grey Squirrels, a non native here in the UK and a real pain in the @rse!
I finally solved it simply by hanging the feeders from thin ( ~2mm ) long wire attached higher up in the tree and far enough from any branches so jumping across was a problem. The thin wire being too thin to hold, and too long to jump or climb down from the holding branch.
I rarely see any now, and recently one came in, stood under the feeder, then ran up a branch, realised he couldn't get to it and went off. After swearing at them for ~ 3 years, the answer for me was really simple.


.... and welcome ( waves from across the Pond! )