Is Hot Pepper Bird Seed Safe for Birds?

Will Cayenne Pepper Keep Squirrels Away From Bird Feeders?

Tony Quinn / EyeEm/Getty Images

“Will it hurt birds if I put hot pepper on bird seed to keep squirrels away?” asks Birds & Blooms reader Richard Yelverton of Jackson, Mississippi.

Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman: Expert opinions differ on this, and it’s good to question these things. The taste of cayenne pepper does often repel squirrels, and eating moderate amounts of pepper apparently won’t harm birds directly. In the American tropics, many birds even eat the red fruits of native wild peppers without being affected by the capsaicin they contain. In general, birds have far fewer taste buds than mammals, and the burning sensation doesn’t bother them. Avian digestive systems, including throats and stomachs, are very tough, which allows them to eat all kinds of things that would seem daunting to us.

But there’s a possibility that loose pepper on bird seed could blow around in the wind, potentially getting in birds’ eyes. Of course, the pepper can also get in the eyes of humans who are adding it to bird seed. For a safer option, place baffles and guards above and below feeders. It can take some experimentation to make the feeders truly squirrel proof.

“I want to put out bird seed at my second house in Maine, but the squirrels and chipmunks get it first. I’ve tried red pepper flakes, but that didn’t stop them. What can I do?” asks Carol Webb of Saugus, Massachusetts.

Kenn and Kimberly: This can be a challenge. Squirrels and chipmunks are remarkably agile and crafty. There are a number of bird feeders on the market designed to dissuade other creatures. We’ve had some success with a few of them. But we finally decided that we enjoy their antics. If you can’t beat ’em, feed ’em! We offer treats squirrels love, like peanuts and corn, in a spot away from the bird feeders. If the traffic gets to be too heavy, a stricter approach is to stop feeding the birds for a while until the squirrels lose interest.

Do safflower seeds deter squirrels?

Is Chili Powder Safe for Birds?

“My wife feeds ground-up pecans to juncos. She also has pecans that are dusted with chili powder. Is it OK to feed those to birds?” asks Delmar Hunt of Savannah, Missouri.

Kenn and Kimberly: The taste of chili powder won’t deter the birds, and they can eat it without harm since they have tough digestive systems. In fact, some wild bird stores sell birdseed treated with chili extract to keep squirrels away. And in the American tropics, birds will eat red-hot ripe chiles right off the plants. The reason we hesitate to recommend the powdered form is because the chili powder may blow around, potentially getting in birds’ eyes (or the eyes of pets or children). If you can serve the treated ground pecans in a secure location out of the wind, it’s probably OK.

Does Hot Sauce Deter Squirrels?

Via Merchant

“I added hot sauce to my sunflower seed to discourage squirrels, but they still came. How much hot sauce should I be using?” Doug Decker of Kansas City, Missouri.

Kenn and Kimberly: Hot sauce on bird seed is effective enough for discouraging squirrels that some bird feeding stores now offer their own brand of hot pepper sauce for that purpose. We’ve tried this method ourselves and found it a bit messy. The results varied. Fortunately, there are good alternatives.

Stores that specialize in bird feeding also sell squirrel-proof feeders that are consistently reliable. You could also try seed cylinders, which are blocks of seed bonded together with gelatin to cut down on loose seed falling to the ground and attracting squirrels and other unwelcome visitors. (Psst—also try these no-mess bird feeders). And, if you’re interested in giving the method another try, take the guesswork (and mess) out of it by purchasing pretreated suet cakes or bird seed.

Next, learn how to keep squirrels from digging up flower pots and bulbs.