Why You Should Sprinkle A Little Bit Of Chili Powder Around Your Bird Feeder

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Every bird enthusiast can appreciate the advantages of setting up bird feeders in a yard or garden. Not only can feeding birds provide you with prime birdwatching opportunities around your home, but you will also feel good knowing that you're supporting a variety of species. This is especially crucial given the North American bird population has been steadily declining for decades. Aside from avoiding common mistakes with your bird feeder itself, you might also need to consider methods to protect the seed from ravenous squirrels who steal food meant for backyard birds. Some people promote the use of chili powder around bird feeders as a way to deter squirrels from the seed, but this method has some downsides and limitations to keep in mind despite its possible efficacy.

Chili powder is a common kitchen staple used to add spice and flavor to a variety of dishes. Its key compound, capsaicin, is responsible for turning up the heat and making your mouth burn if you use too much. If you're among the many people who cannot handle chili powder, it turns out you have something in common with squirrels. While some wildlife are immune to the burning sensations of chili powder after consumption, squirrels are not among them. For these reasons, some bird lovers use chili powder around bird seed because it can deter squirrels without harming the digestive systems of birds.

In theory, chili powder might help to ensure that you are able to successfully feed birds without squirrels getting to their food first. If you decide to use this potential squirrel deterrent, the recommendation is to simply sprinkle a small amount of the ingredient in with the seed before placing it in feeders as usual. The hope is that if a squirrel experiences the negative effects of the capsaicin, they will avoid coming back to steal more seed in the future. At the same time, the chili powder will not cause any burning sensations in the mouths or stomachs of the birds you're trying to protect, making this seem like a win-win solution.

Previous research backs this method, with one 2000 study at Cornell University noting that capsaicin may decrease the number of squirrels stealing bird seed. In fact, the ingredient has gained such a growing status as a squirrel deterrent that there are even commercial bird seeds laced with it. One example is the Hearts on Fire Bird Seed, which contains hulled sunflower hearts and chili pepper oil. Researchers are still working to understand why some animals are more prone to the effects of capsaicin than others, but so far, anecdotal evidence seems to support the ingredient as a deterrent for squirrels around bird feeders.

Before you start sprinkling a bottle of chili powder on all your bird food, there are some important caveats to consider. Although many people support this bird feeder hack, others have raised concerns about possible bird safety problems that research has not yet fully delved into. This includes the possibility of eye irritation in birds after capsaicin exposure. Furthermore, the ingredient is deadly to bees and other pollinators around your yard. Also, while capsaicin may deter squirrels, it doesn't appear to have the same effect on seed-stealing chipmunks. There have also been reports that some squirrels are not deterred at all.

You'll also need to reapply the chili powder after significant rain or snow events, as it is likely to wash away and become less effective. Always wear gloves when handling chili powder, treated bird seed, and accompanying feeders.

While you might hope to find a single best way to keep squirrels out of your bird feeder, the truth is there isn't a single method that will solve all of your squirrel problems. Instead, deterring squirrels from accessing bird seed requires a comprehensive plan where you implement more than one strategy. This can include the chili powder hack, though animal advocates recommend using other techniques first to avoid irritating squirrels' mouths. For example, you might try exclusion methods, such as adding squirrel baffles to your bird feeders.