Squirrels are opportunistic foragers that consume a wide variety of foods. As mammals, they possess a highly developed sense of smell and taste, which guides their foraging choices. This sensitivity means their palate has strong, innate aversions to specific chemical compounds. Understanding these dislikes allows for the strategic use of certain flavors and scents to protect vulnerable areas, causing the squirrel to quickly abandon the food source.
Flavors and Scents That Deter Squirrels
The most effective food-based deterrent relies on capsaicin, the active ingredient that creates the sensation of heat in chili peppers. Capsaicin binds to pain receptors in mammals, including squirrels, creating a burning sensation in the mouth and nasal passages upon ingestion or inhalation. This intense irritation is not harmful, but it is highly unpleasant and acts as a strong behavioral deterrent.
A crucial aspect of capsaicin’s effectiveness is that it does not affect birds, allowing it to be mixed safely into birdseed. Birds possess different pain receptors that do not react to capsaicin, meaning they can consume the spicy seeds without any discomfort. Squirrels, on the other hand, quickly learn to associate the pain with the food source, leading to a significant reduction in their feeding time.
Beyond spicy heat, squirrels are also repelled by strong aromatic or bitter agents that overwhelm their sensitive olfactory system. Pungent scents like peppermint oil, garlic, and white vinegar interfere with foraging by masking the smell of desirable food. These strong aromas make the area unappealing and confuse the squirrel’s sense of direction toward a meal. The bitterness of certain commercial sprays works by fouling the taste of plants or bulbs, causing the squirrel to spit out the item and seek food elsewhere.
Specific Plants and Bulbs They Will Not Eat
Certain garden items are avoided by squirrels because they contain bitter or toxic compounds. Daffodils, for example, are rarely disturbed because their bulbs contain lycorine, an alkaloid that is toxic and extremely bitter to rodents. Similarly, hyacinth bulbs contain compounds that are highly unpalatable, leading squirrels to bypass them entirely when caching food for winter.
The Allium family, which includes ornamental onions, chives, and garlic, is avoided due to the presence of sulfur compounds like allicin. These chemicals produce the sharp, pungent scent and flavor that squirrels find distasteful and actively shun. Planting these items near more desirable bulbs, such as tulips or crocus, can sometimes offer a degree of natural protection.
Specific herbs act as passive deterrents due to their strong essential oils. Mint, whether peppermint or spearmint, is known for its intense aroma, which overwhelms a squirrel’s sensitive nose. Other aromatic plants like rosemary and geraniums are generally left untouched because their taste and scent profiles are aversive to most rodents.
Effective Methods for Applying Food-Based Deterrents
Protecting bird feeders is commonly achieved by coating the seed with capsaicin products. To treat a batch of seed, a liquid capsaicin concentrate or cayenne pepper powder can be mixed with a non-toxic carrier oil, such as mineral oil, to help the spice adhere. The treated mixture must be thoroughly tossed until the seeds are lightly coated, creating a meal that is hot to a squirrel but undetectable to a bird.
For garden and container protection, liquid deterrents are the most practical application. A homemade bitter or spicy spray can be created by mixing hot pepper powder or sauce with water and a small amount of dish soap to act as an emulsifier. This solution can be lightly misted directly onto plants, vegetables, or the soil surface around vulnerable areas. Reapplication is necessary after any significant rainfall or watering, as the elements will wash the active compounds away.
Applying aromatic oils and powders requires a slightly different approach focused on scent. Cotton balls soaked in concentrated peppermint oil or crushed garlic cloves can be strategically placed in containers or buried just beneath the surface of the soil. These concentrated scents disrupt the squirrel’s ability to smell buried nuts or newly planted bulbs. Persistence is important with any deterrent, as the squirrel must repeatedly encounter the unpleasant flavor or scent to learn that the area is not a reliable food source.