It might seem odd, but sprinkling chilli powder on bird food is the perfect trick to deter squirrels from bird feeders and keep food for hungry birds during the spring nesting season
Gardeners are being urged to put chilli powder in their gardens(Image: Alex Evans)
Gardeners are being encouraged to sprinkle chilli powder in their gardens this May for a genuinely important reason. While it might sound unusual, this clever trick helps keep food available for hungry birds as spring arrives, while deterring other creatures from pinching it. With nesting season reaching its peak, the timing couldn’t be more crucial.
Birds have encountered significant difficulties in recent years, largely attributed to habitat loss and food shortages. Gardeners across the country have noted a dramatic decline in bird sightings, with the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch documenting the steady fall in garden bird populations over recent decades. The catastrophic decline in insect numbers – plummeting by as much as 80% over the last 20 years due to habitat destruction and climate change – is believed to be creating a ripple effect throughout the food chain, leaving birds struggling to find enough to eat and facing the threat of starvation.
This is precisely why many gardeners are doing their bit to support birds by providing food, particularly during the critical nesting period.
However, one significant challenge when putting out bird food is that other wildlife – such as squirrels – will attempt to nick it. This is where the chilli powder proves invaluable.
If you’ve got a birdbath or bird feeder, you can leave out mealworms, suet, fat balls and slices of fruit like apple for birds to enjoy. Bruised apples and pears prove particularly appealing to birds, while kitchen leftovers such as pastry, cooked rice and breadcrumbs can also be offered – though the RSPB advises using these sparingly, reports the Express.
However, sprinkle chilli powder over everything, and the birds will have exclusive access to the feast. This is because birds remain completely unaffected by chilli powder, while squirrels and foxes detest it – ensuring all the food goes to the birds.
The RSPB explains: “Strong chilli powder or pepper sauce (like Tabasco) can be shaken onto bird food. Birds aren’t bothered by the chilli, but most squirrels can’t put up with the burning sensation and will leave the food alone.”
That said, flat bird tables should no longer be used – the RSPB withdrew these from sale in 2024 amid concerns they were facilitating disease transmission.
Additionally, avoid putting out seeds or peanuts between May 1 and October 31. The RSPB believes that seeds and nuts may be spreading disease which is proving fatal to birds, despite well-intentioned bird enthusiasts attempting to help by providing the feed.
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