I've discovered a $3 kitchen spice that will send squirrels away from your yard in seconds – here's how to use it as an effective deterrent

There's no doubt squirrels can be an adorable sight in the yard, but they can also become a nuisance. This is especially true when it comes to squirrels digging up bulbs and eating fruit crops. But, I've found out you can use cayenne pepper to deter squirrels if they're proving to be a pest in your yard.

The truth is, there are a lot of ways to get rid of squirrels. From motion detector water sprays to using the best pest-repellent plants. However, pest control experts say that these measures don't always work for an extended period of time as squirrels can quickly get used to them. Cayenne pepper, however, is thought to be a much more effective solution. With such a strong smell and hot taste, it's a spice sure to discourage squirrel presence in the yard.

What's more, this natural way of deterring squirrels won't bring harm to them long-term. Here's everything pest control experts want you to know about using cayenne pepper to deter squirrels.

How to use cayenne pepper to deter squirrels

There are plenty of spices that deter common garden pests, including cinnamon (from Walmart) and chili powder (from Walmart). Cayenne pepper is especially effective for squirrels.

'Squirrels have very sensitive noses and mouths because these are their main tools to find food and determine what’s safe to eat or avoid,' explains Nicole Carpenter, president at Black Pest Prevention,

When squirrels come into contact with cayenne pepper (available at Walmart), they are left with irritation in their mouths. This is just enough to discourage them from coming back, but it also won't harm them in the long-term.

It's a simple solution to get rid of squirrels if they're causing trouble among your planting. Here's how to use cayenne pepper to deter squirrels:

Nicole Carpenter

Black Pest Control has been providing effective and affordable pest control in North Carolina since 1940. Nicole, who is president of the company, has nearly two decades of hands-on experience at tackling bugs and infestations in the home and yard.

How to use cayenne pepper to deter squirrels

There are a few different ways to use cayenne pepper to deter squirrels, depending on what you are trying to protect in your garden.

For example, you can use it to keep squirrels away from fruit trees by applying it directly to the base of the trunks, or you can sprinkle it around your garden boundaries to create a barrier.

'Grab dry, ground cayenne pepper powder (from Amazon) and mist it with water (one tablespoon of cayenne to one cup of water) so that it sticks to the surface and doesn’t blow away,' advises Nicole.

You can use an empty spray bottle (from Amazon) for misting.

You can also mix in cayenne when mulching or using compost in places where squirrels tend to dig. This is an effective way to stop squirrels from digging up bulbs.

And if you're looking for a way to keep squirrels away from bird feeders, simply add some cayenne pepper to the bird food you put out:

'Capsaicin (the chemical compound responsible for making peppers hot) only affects animals that are sensitive to it, but birds don’t have receptors to detect capsaicin, meaning it poses no threat to them,' Nicole notes.

'Of course, it's not a good idea to put it directly on plants and plant leaves you plan to eat,' she adds.

FAQs

How often do you have to apply cayenne pepper to deter squirrels?

Cayenne pepper is an effective spice to use to deter squirrels, but it does require repeat application. For this reason, you will need to reapply cayenne pepper every couple of days.

'For a long-term and wider effect, you need to use other methods alongside cayenne pepper,' says Nicole Carpenter, president at Black Pest Prevention. 'Try using physical barriers, like mesh or hardware cloth (from Amazon), which blocks access. This something that works no matter what and something squirrels can’t get used to or ignore,' she adds.

This cayenne pepper hack will help keep squirrels away from edible plants and keep squirrels out of potted plants alike. For a more effective effort, it's worth employing a few different methods at once. This includes using marigold flowers to deter squirrels, as well as the following pest control kit: