And what’s more- you probably already have it in your cupboard.
Grey squirrels are often viewed as the bullies of the garden, and it’s no secret that they love to burgle bird feeders. But it can be increasingly annoying to see your beloved local birds constantly being stolen from.
In fact, grey squirrels are often considered destructive to the environment, as they are an invasive species in the UK- originally from North America- that can damage our ecosystems. They also carry the deadly squirrel pox virus which is contributing to the endangerment of Scottish native red squirrels.
But aside from their affect on wildlife as a whole, grey squirrels can be complete pests in our own gardens, especially when you can tell they’ve been scoffing all the feed meant for the birds. But luckily, one item that you may already have in your kitchen cupboard is a natural repellent for the cheeky rodents, and what’s more, it won’t put off birds from going to your feeder.
According to experts at Happy Gardens, using a spoon of dehydrated cayenne pepper can deter squirrels from going anywhere near your feeder.
The gardening experts say on their website: “Squirrels and birds have very different taste buds. As it turns out, birds don’t perceive heat and spiciness the same way people (or acorn-gobbling squirrels) do.
“Now, whether this tip actually works or is just an old wives’ tale isn’t quite clear. But rumour has it that drooping a spoonful or so of dehydrated cayenne pepper into your bag of seed can squirrel-proof bird food.”
A common compound found in many spicy foods, called capsaicin, can react with squirrels’ tastebuds, like it does with ours.
But it doesn’t have the same effect on birds.
The experts continue: “Mammals have specific nerves in our mouth that react to hot peppers…and squirrels are mammals!
“But birds, of course, are not. Birds can chow down on seeds from hot peppers happily, but squirrels detest it.
“So, if you’re looking for a squirrel proof feeder, it may be more about what’s inside of it than you think!”
However, this hack may not be completely fool-proof, and it’s crucial to do your own research before spicing up your bird seed.
This is because there is a debate among garden lovers on whether or not cayenne pepper is actually harmful to birds.
The garden experts at Happy Garden caution that spicy seeds and pepper have the potential to hurt birds’ eyes, and advise us to be wary of this before adding extra hot peppers to their food.
But bird experts as Beaky Bites ensure that cayenne pepper isn’t harmful to them, as they lack the pain receptors for capsaicin and so cannot perceive the spiciness.
In fact, they even say that the pepper is good for birds, saying: “Beyond seed dispersal, cayenne peppers have many health benefits for birds.
“These hot fruits are rich in vitamin C which provides significant immune support for birds. Vitamin C helps maintain a healthy immune system and fend off diseases and infections.
“Cayenne peppers also contain provitamin A carotenoids which are important for vision and overall immune function.”
