Nature Features

Householders whose bird tables are a target for hungry squirrels are being encouraged to deter the rodent raiders by adding a bit of spice to the meal.

The Bedfordshire based RSPB said chilli powder is a safe and effective way to keep grey squirrels away from nuts and seeds, without harming garden birds.

Dusting a small amount of the powder over seed and suet mixes in feeders and on bird tables appears to have no effect on the birds, but stops the squirrels helping themselves, the conservation charity said.

Seed mixes should be thoroughly coated but not hidden in the powder, the RSPB said, recommending that the chilli powder should be put in a bag with seed mix and shaken up.

If householders don't have any chilli powder to hand, curry powder, Tabasco, peri-peri sauce, red pepper and cayenne pepper will all do the trick.

Lloyd Scott, RSPB wildlife adviser, said: "Using chilli powder to deter squirrels is a cheap, easy and effective solution.

"Squirrels can consume large amounts of peanuts and seeds and quite frequently destroy bird feeders in the process.

"Chilli powder will stop them helping themselves but doesn't seem to have any effect on birds at all.

"This is much simpler than erecting barriers and trying to prevent access to feeders for squirrels - they are nimble, clever animals and will usually find a way in anyway."

Gemma Rogers from the RSPB told Stephen Rhodes more…