Lately squirrels have really been digging deep into a couple of great big pots outside with some hens & chicks in them. This is so frustrating. Someone once told me cayenne pepper was a "natural squirrel repellent" that wouldn't harm the squirrels or the plants, and I think it worked in the past, but apparently it's not now (then again, this pepper is a few years old).
Does anyone have any other ideas as far as a natural herb/spice that will keep squirrels away, and still be safe to them and the plants?
Thanks!
May 11, 2012, 08:15 PM
ga.karen
I'd buy new pepper flakes. And it may or may not work. Some folks use hardware cloth to keep them out and sometimes small rocks will work.
"The soil is the source of life, creativity, culture and real independence." David Ben-Gurion
May 12, 2012, 12:31 AM
nettiejay
Pepper or anything else edible is hit or miss when it comes to squirrels. They don't all like or hate the same things, as you found out with the red pepper.
I cover the soil surface of containers with 1-2" landscape rock. They don't like to dig through it, it's quite decorative, and it helps retain moisture in the pots, too.
May 12, 2012, 08:29 AM
KimmSr
Hot pepper, capsaicin. But if the pepper flakes or powder is left around for a time it does loose is potency. Fresh works most bestest.
The sign of a good gardener is not a green thumb, it is brown knees.
Jun 21, 2012, 08:30 AM
DebiinFL
I had a few pots that the squirrels used to dig in, and I used decorative rock mulch - the little pretty stones. It looked great and kept moisture in (as previous post mentioned with her rock), and I loved the look. The stones were small enough that they didn't overwhelm the small plants. The squirrels moved on... Now, they did sleep in a couple of my plants in my pots which I never figured out how to stop them from doing - and I think they only did it since they couldn't dig in the other pots anymore. I think they're vindictive, but maybe that's just my squirrels....
Jun 25, 2012, 12:57 PM
Loonie
I often see coments about the use of pepper to dissuade squirrels from entering a garden. I'm surprised that even the experts, those heard on radio, or in newspapers advising this. When you consider how animals clean their faces with paws, such invasion has got to reasonably think the animal will walk in it and then, as they do, clean their paws by licking and possibly transferring such to their faces...and their eyes. For all the damage done to a plant, is such thought of possible blinding worth the risk. The little buggers have dug up a few of my tulips--which I find with my lawnmower--but, while I might swear at the act, I wouldn't put down a harmful powder to try to discourage them. I regularly plant replacement bulbs in the fall--and due to the unseasonable winter we had, such replacement is going to be larger than ever, but still a labor of love.
Show a lkittle kindness and find other ways and protect the wildlife.
Jun 25, 2012, 04:29 PM
ga.karen
quote:
Originally posted by Loonie: I often see coments about the use of pepper to dissuade squirrels from entering a garden. I'm surprised that even the experts, those heard on radio, or in newspapers advising this. When you consider how animals clean their faces with paws, such invasion has got to reasonably think the animal will walk in it and then, as they do, clean their paws by licking and possibly transferring such to their faces...and their eyes. For all the damage done to a plant, is such thought of possible blinding worth the risk. The little buggers have dug up a few of my tulips--which I find with my lawnmower--but, while I might swear at the act, I wouldn't put down a harmful powder to try to discourage them. I regularly plant replacement bulbs in the fall--and due to the unseasonable winter we had, such replacement is going to be larger than ever, but still a labor of love.
Show a lkittle kindness and find other ways and protect the wildlife.
Our .22 rifle works pretty well too!
"The soil is the source of life, creativity, culture and real independence." David Ben-Gurion
Jun 26, 2012, 07:31 PM
Loonie
Another form of protection comes in the way of another animal. The homeowner just has to welcome into their homes what will fast become a friend. Get a kittycat. Cats have long enjoyed the hunting of squirrels. My neighbor has one and he is often seen chasing a squirrel which he then eats. Sort of not nice to think that a housecat will actually dine on those furry little creatures that some make hats of. My neighbors cat by the way, has been declawed but that hasn't prevented him from catching and munching.
Jun 26, 2012, 07:40 PM
M-ma
Loonie, the bird store that I frequent offers a repellant to deter squirrel, et al from feeders. If it were that dangerous, would it be sold?
Jun 27, 2012, 08:57 AM
conrad
Squirrels are rather smart rodents...just like rats. They learn from experience and from each other. A hot pepper (capsaicin) repellent will train them it is not as comfortable to eat from this bird feeder or this area of this yard or plant pots. So they go elsewhere for less spicey digs. Very humane in my book, for a rat.
Jun 27, 2012, 10:29 AM
Wavee
I have tried everything to repel skwirls from my platform birdfeeder with no success. I have tried: Skwirl Baffles vaseline on the Shephard's Hook plastic bottles/cups on there red pepper flakes in bird seed cayenne pepper in bird seed
NOTHING HAS KEPT THEM AWAY! They are one of the smartest animals I have ever seen. Very agile, athletic and smart. For a few years I've tried to keep them out of bird feeder, no luck yet.This message has been edited. Last edited by: Wavee,
Jun 27, 2012, 10:42 AM
conrad
I too got rather tired of the frustration, Wavee.
The squirrel resistant metal bird feeder (with the door that closes over the food) was the most successful of all we tried (the hot pepper helped some prior to that). They did chew the wooden perch off, so I replaced with a small diameter copper pipe. Probably sell it cheap on Craig's list this fall. We no longer feed the wildlife, just got too costly over the winter months.
Jun 28, 2012, 07:41 AM
KimmSr
Contrary to what a few people that refuse to belive good research, the capsaicin pepper dust does not cause blindness in our suqirrel population. Maybe if the squirrel were dumb enough to wallow in a tub of it, not the fairly small amount you would add to the bird feeder, it could.
The sign of a good gardener is not a green thumb, it is brown knees.
Jun 28, 2012, 01:09 PM
Sparky
quote:
Originally posted by Loonie: Another form of protection comes in the way of another animal. The homeowner just has to welcome into their homes what will fast become a friend. Get a kittycat. Cats have long enjoyed the hunting of squirrels. My neighbor has one and he is often seen chasing a squirrel which he then eats. Sort of not nice to think that a housecat will actually dine on those furry little creatures that some make hats of. My neighbors cat by the way, has been declawed but that hasn't prevented him from catching and munching.
And when the cat gets done with the squirrels it can start on the song birds, no song birds, no need to feed them... problem solved. Oh and the cats provide much needed fertilizer for your flower beds. /sarc
The BBC did a show several years ago where they set up various obstacles for squirrels to run through to get to food. It was always possible for them to get to it if they figured out the course, they couldn't jump to the feeder or climb the pole it was on, but they would give them a path with many obstacles on it to give them a path. Sometimes it took them many attempts to figure it out.
There are a lot of of them on youtube, here is a sampling.
Any advice given here is general in nature and is not necessarily valid for your given area. If in doubt check with your local codes enforcement department for what is required when doing electrical, plumbing or structural work on your house. Permits may or may not be required in your area and home owners may not be able to DIY some tasks. I have no way of knowing if you have the skills needed to complete the tasks you are asking about, when in doubt seek professional assistance.
My advice may be worth exactly what you pay me for it. :-) For the record I did not stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night.
Jun 29, 2012, 08:51 AM
conrad
quote:
And when the cat gets done with the squirrels it can start on the song birds, no song birds, no need to feed them... problem solved. Oh and the cats provide much needed fertilizer for your flower beds. /sarc
(chuckle) I thought the same thing when I read that response, Sparky
