Bell peppers are a popular addition to many gardens, offering a variety of colors and flavors. Gardeners often face the challenge of protecting their ripening bell peppers from various animal pests. This article identifies common culprits, the damage they cause, and general strategies to protect bell pepper plants.
Common Animals That Eat Bell Peppers
Rodents, such as mice, rats, and squirrels, are frequent visitors to vegetable gardens. Squirrels munch on peppers directly, sometimes carrying them away, and can also consume roots. Mice and rats tend to eat holes in the peppers, particularly the sweet varieties, often targeting the seeds inside.
Rabbits are common garden pests, fond of bell peppers. They chew on leaves and fruits, especially young seedlings. Deer may eat bell peppers when other food sources are scarce, particularly during droughts. They consume leaves and can damage plants by trampling.
Birds are not affected by capsaicin, allowing them to eat both sweet and hot varieties. They are attracted to the bright colors of ripe peppers and can peck at the fruit, consuming seeds and flesh.
Insects also pose a threat. Aphids, tiny sap-sucking insects, cluster on stems and leaves, feeding on plant sap. Caterpillars, such as armyworms and pepper maggots, feed on foliage and can bore into the fruit. Slugs and snails are soft-bodied pests that chew ragged holes in leaves and fruits, often leaving slime trails.
Identifying the Culprit by Damage
Damage to bell pepper plants can help identify the specific animal responsible. Rabbits often leave clean, 45-degree angle cuts on stems and leaves, and their presence can be indicated by pea-sized droppings. Deer leave ragged edges on damaged foliage and their hoof prints can often be found nearby. If entire young plants or significant portions of foliage disappear overnight, particularly in areas bordering woods, deer or groundhogs might be the culprits.
Rodent damage often appears as gnaw marks or holes in the fruit, especially on ripening peppers. Mice and rats create small holes, sometimes going directly for the seeds, while squirrels might take whole peppers or leave larger, irregular bite marks. If you find peppers with small, shallow peck marks or holes, especially on ripe fruit, birds are likely the cause. They can also leave cleanly clipped stems where entire small peppers were removed.
Insect damage presents differently. Aphids cause distorted or yellowed leaves and leave behind a sticky residue called honeydew. Caterpillars create irregular holes in leaves and fruit, and their droppings (frass) may be visible. Slugs and snails are identifiable by the large, ragged holes they chew in leaves and fruits, along with characteristic silvery slime trails.
General Strategies to Deter Pests
Protecting bell pepper plants from animal damage involves general deterrent strategies. Physical barriers like fine mesh netting, chicken wire, or row covers prevent larger animals and some insects from accessing plants while allowing sunlight and water. For crawling pests like slugs and snails, copper tape around raised beds or diatomaceous earth sprinkled in bands can create a barrier they avoid.
Maintaining garden hygiene is an effective approach. Regularly removing fallen leaves, overripe fruit, and weeds reduces hiding spots and breeding grounds for many pests. Proper watering practices can also help, as overwatering can create damp conditions favored by slugs and snails. Companion planting, growing certain plants together, can deter pests naturally. Strong-scented herbs like basil, rosemary, or garlic planted near bell peppers can help repel various insects and some mammals.