Gardeners cultivating sweet bell peppers often encounter the common squirrel, an agile rodent known for its curiosity and destructive foraging habits. Squirrels frequently target ripening produce in search of an easy meal. Understanding whether squirrels truly eat bell peppers or simply cause damage requires examining their natural diet and opportunistic behavior. This overview explores the biological reasons behind the attraction and provides practical strategies for protecting a pepper harvest.
Understanding Squirrel Dietary Habits
Squirrels are classified as omnivores, meaning their diet is not limited exclusively to plant matter. While their natural sustenance primarily consists of seeds, nuts, fruits, fungi, and buds, they are highly adaptable and will consume a wide variety of foods depending on seasonal availability. This opportunistic feeding behavior explains why they may deviate from their preferred diet of calorie-dense nuts and seeds to sample garden produce.
The typical wild squirrel diet is geared toward sources rich in fat and protein to sustain their active lifestyle. When these primary sources are scarce, they will investigate less conventional options, including vegetables, insects, and occasionally even bird eggs. This willingness to explore different food sources means that virtually any accessible garden crop can become a target.
Why Bell Peppers Attract Squirrels
The primary reason squirrels interact with sweet bell peppers is the absence of a natural deterrent found in other varieties. Bell peppers lack capsaicin, the chemical compound that gives chili peppers their characteristic heat. Capsaicin triggers a pain-like sensation in mammals, effectively discouraging them from eating spicy fruits, but this defense mechanism is entirely missing in the sweet varieties.
With no heat to deter them, squirrels are drawn to the pepper for its high moisture content and internal seeds. During dry periods, a plump, juicy pepper offers a readily available source of hydration, making it an appealing target for water-seeking animals. The seeds nestled inside the core are also a nutritional draw, as seeds are a staple component of the squirrel’s diet.
Damage is often exploratory, with squirrels taking a few bites out of several peppers rather than consuming one entire fruit. This behavior is distinct from sustained feeding and is often a search for water or a quick check for palatability. Squirrels generally leave chili peppers, such as jalapeños or cayenne, untouched due to the capsaicin.
Protecting Your Pepper Plants
Gardeners have several specific methods to physically deter squirrels from damaging ripening bell peppers. Installing physical barriers is often the most reliable method for complete protection.
Physical Barriers
Enclosing plants within a cage constructed of hardware cloth or fine-mesh chicken wire prevents the animals from reaching the fruit while still allowing sunlight and water penetration. Netting can also be draped over the pepper plants, but the mesh must be securely anchored to the ground to prevent squirrels from burrowing underneath. A more subtle deterrent involves placing sharp, woody skewers or small rocks in the soil around the base of the plant to discourage digging, disrupting their habit of burying food and roots.
Natural Repellents
Natural repellents offer another layer of defense that exploits the squirrel’s sensitive sense of smell and taste. Sprays containing capsaicin, derived from hot peppers, can be applied directly to the plant foliage and fruit to discourage chewing. Alternatively, the application of commercially available predator urine scents or bitter-tasting sprays can signal danger and encourage the squirrels to forage elsewhere. These topical treatments require reapplication, especially after rain or heavy watering, to maintain their effectiveness against persistent garden pests.