Another question for the garden bird experts

[AnnieW]

Yesterday I spotted a product called "Squirrel Stop" produced by a company called "Growing Success". It's a spray that contains natural plant extracts based around capsicums. This apparently is an irritant and distasteful to squirrels, but safe and attractive to birds. It also claims to contain vitamins and proteins that are essential for birds.

The idea is that you spray it onto your feeders every couple of days until the squirrels change their feeding habits and find an alternative source of food. I'm fighting an ever losing battle with the squirrels. Nothing seems to work, including providing them with their own food source (they polish this off before launching a new attack on the feeders). In fact they appear to view all our attempts to deter them as a challenge, seemingly enjoying the mental stimulation (a sort of squirrel Krypton Factor !!).

So the question is - has anyone any views on this substance. I'm not so much concerned about whether it deters the squirrels - I'm prepared to give anything a go. But rather, is it really safe for the birds and will it really not deter them. I was a bit suspicious of the precautions listed om the back - but that might just be because of the pepper extract being an irritant to humans. I tried googling, but didn't really turn up much. So, over to the experts.

(Thinking about it, I guess I should maybe have posted this to a different forum, as it isn't specifically garden related - but I'm here now !!)

[satrow]

SNIP

(Thinking about it, I guess I should maybe have posted this to a different forum, as it isn't specifically garden related - but I'm here now !!)

Certainly seems to be the right forum.

Could you list the (claimed) contents for us?

Andy.

[Elizabeth Bigg]

Some while ago I bought some "Squirrel Away" powder - said to be undetectable by birds, but very distasteful to squirrels. I duly mixed it with some mixed seed (could have done with wearing breathing apparatus at the time) and put it on the ground feeder - and it made not a bit of difference. It was a dead waste of money.

The ingredient was capsicum pepper dust - and I've read on the web that this is very successful. I have noticed this "Squirrel Stop" liquid in a catalogue (can't track it down right now) - I'm hoping to get round to writng to them to ask what sort of guarantee of effectiveness they give!

[AnnieW]

Elizabeth - interested in your lack of success with Squirrel Away. It certainly sounds like a similar product to Squirrel Stop except the latter is a liquid.

I finally tracked down the manufacturers web site (http://www.growingsuccess.org.uk/) - this is what they have to say about "Squirrel Stop" - it covers Andy's question about the ingredients :


Squirrel Stop is used to deter squirrels from stealing and eating bird food off feeders and tables. Specific Targeting Capsicum Oil works through aversive conditioning. The basic principle being that the full strength oil is offensive in taste to the majority of mammals. As such squirrels and other small pests soon learn to avoid foodstuffs coated with the product and look elsewhere for food. Birds on the other hand lack the taste sensors which the Capsicum effect and are unaffected by the taste.

Children & Pets Need Not Be Excluded From Treated Areas. Although extremely hot in taste, Capsicum has very few other effects. Any that it does have, such as irritation to eyes, subsides within a 20 minute period and can be hastened by application of water and soap.

Ready To Use. Most similar products have to be made up. Ours is already formulated for ease of use.

Active Ingredient:-

Capsicum Oil - Derived from Capsicum Peppers (otherwise known as Bird Peppers) it is widely acknowledged as the hottest tasting substance to humans and other mammals.

How to Use:-

Shake sprayer well before use. Release the black safety catch and pull it down. Apply spray (in calm conditions) evenly over Bird Feeder giving a liberal soaking.


Presentation:-

1 Litre Ready to Use Spray.

Commonly Asked Questions And Complaints

Q The Product Doesn’t Work!
A Squirrel Stop is not supposed to be an instant remedy. It is intended to educate the squirrels to avoid the bird feeder through aversion training. Also, if not vigorously shaken before application, the first use of the product may well be weakened due to separation of the oil and water.

Q Can I Use It On Plants And Tubs In My Garden?
A Although all components of Squirrel Stop are Food Grade, intended to have the minimum environmental impact, we can not recommend use other than to protect Bird Food.

Q I Have Sprayed The Legs Of My Bird Table And The Squirrels Still Climb It.
A They will. The product works through taste and as such, unless the Squirrels bite into the legs of the Bird Table they will be unaffected by the product

[crazybirdlady]

Hello....
I have been using a great book...the Backyard Bird Feeder's BIBLE...it has some Squirrel info....Have you tried hot pepper extract????If you have not let me know and I will tell you how to use it...I won't bother if you have already tried it ....My friend swears it worked for him!!!!
Have a great day!!!---------crazybirdlady

[AnnieW]

Just thought I'd add a post-script to this thread. I bought some of the Squirrel Stop Spray and have been using for the last couple of weeks.

It hasn't put off the birds :t:

Nor has it deterred the squirrels :C

C'est la vie !!!

[snowyowl]

Just thought I'd add a post-script to this thread. I bought some of the Squirrel Stop Spray and have been using for the last couple of weeks.

It hasn't put off the birds :t:

Nor has it deterred the squirrels :C

C'est la vie !!!
I have a live trap and I simply trap the squirrels and release them in the woods a few miles away. I don't do this because of the feeders but because they have several times got into the walls of our old farm house.

[jeff]

I'd love a squirrel in my garden.

Why not spend your 'squirrel away' money on extra nuts for the squirrels, then enjoy the squirrels as well as the birds :-)

Another problem solved ;-)

[edrick owl]

Hi all

I have read with some interest AnnieW's comments on her on-going battles with squirrels, and have contributed to the debate myself, but having had no trouble with them before, now the problem of the little grey creatures comes round to me.

Over the last few months I have made and erected some nestboxes - all enclosed, but I have now made an open fronted one, and placed it lovingly in my back garden, in some ivy. Some of the birds have shown a bit of interest in it (especially a pair of Dunnocks), but have not yet "committed" themselves. After recently reading an article I reasoned it was facing the wrong direction, so turned it round to face east. Next day, straight away, I see a squirrel leaving the box, and climbing stealthily down from its location.

This made me wonder, how do I stop a squirrel from having a go at an open-fronted nest box, designed for Robins or Wrens (RSPB design)? It now seems a prime case of scrambled eggs for breakfast for Mr Tufty, unless, of course, anyone has any ideas AnnieW!!!!

edrick owl

[AnnieW]

I have read with some interest AnnieW's comments on her on-going battles with squirrels, and have contributed to the debate myself, but having had no trouble with them before, now the problem of the little grey creatures comes round to me.


As the saying goes, Edrick ... everything comes to he who waits ;)

You could always try inviting a few crows around for lunch. See http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=13076 (http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=13076)

In answer to Jeff's post above - I have tried just that. In fact, I bought them their very own purpose built squirrel feeder a couple of weeks ago. I just can't keep it filled fast enough for them - and as soon as its empty, they turn their attention back to the bird's food (And my employers are yet to consider the need to feed the squirrels as a suitable excuse for prolonged absence from work !!).

The interesting thing watching the the squirrels, is that they only eat a small proportion of the nuts they take - they tend rather to bury and then forage for them later. This proved quite amusing, when we first put up the squirrel feeder - one of them sussed it out almost straight away (he's the smart one) and spent a happy half hour opening the lid, taking a nut and burying it, opening the lid, taking a nut and burying it etc etc etc. The three other squirrels which are a bit slower spent the half hour digging up the nuts that the first one had buried and eating them .... so perhaps they are really the smart ones !!

Annie

[wonderdog4]

Hello.

Providing them with their own food source simply increases the squirrels in your yard.

Using pepper powders and sprays has never worked for me primarily because rain and dew quickly dilute the spiciness of the product.

The only success I have had with reducing squirrels has come from trapping and moving or -- in the case of invasive, non-native Easter Grey Squirrels -- trapping and euthenizing.

I wish there were an easier answer. I really do.

[GR Triever]

Feed them... my squirrels coexist very nicely with my birds.

[snowyowl]

Feed them... my squirrels coexist very nicely with my birds.
A couple of years ago I live trapped 17 squirrels who had made mtheir way into the walls. I don't mind a couple around and they are welcome to the food but when they chew into the wooden shingles of the house and into feed bins they become nothing but problems.
Squirrels will take advantage of any weakness to work their way into the walls of the house. I happily co-exist with skunks, chipmonks, foxes and coyotes, even squirrels who stay in the woods but when they start become too bold they have to go.

[tanarae]

I spend a little extra time in my local city park which is loaded with pecans, a squirrel favorite and pick up a few buckets to place in the squirrel feeder! This will keep them busy planting and eating and staying clear of the bird feeders atleast as long as the pecans hold out! They have fun and I get to watch them too! Tanarae


I'd love a squirrel in my garden.

Why not spend your 'squirrel away' money on extra nuts for the squirrels, then enjoy the squirrels as well as the birds :-)

Another problem solved ;-)

[bristolbirder]

Hi Annie

If you are going to spend money on deterring squirrels why not just buy squirrel-proof feeders? They work for me.

Steve

[helenol]

Maybe Annie has solved this problem. After all the thread was started 3 Feb 2004, more than a year ago.

[bristolbirder]

Maybe Annie has solved this problem. After all the thread was started 3 Feb 2004, more than a year ago.

Good shout Helen. I missed that! Doh!

Steve

[snapper]

I'd love a squirrel in my garden.

Why not spend your 'squirrel away' money on extra nuts for the squirrels, then enjoy the squirrels as well as the birds :-)

Another problem solved ;-)Nice one jeff I have run squirrels along side birds in my garden for 9 years with no hassel, what's the problem squirrels eat hazel nuts, maze ( corn on the cob ) etc. Good protection for birds aswell never seen a sparrow hawk when the squirrel is around, well not in my garden I have had house sparrows, house martins, blackbirds, blue tits, dunnocks & robins nesting with no hassel at all live with wildlife (not just birds ) don't fight against it as the saying goes live & let live.

Regards to all Snapper.

[jeff]

Nice one jeff I have run squirrels along side birds in my garden for 9 years with no hassel, what's the problem squirrels eat hazel nuts, maze ( corn on the cob ) etc. Good protection for birds aswell never seen a sparrow hawk when the squirrel is around, well not in my garden I have had house sparrows, house martins, blackbirds, blue tits, dunnocks & robins nesting with no hassel at all live with wildlife (not just birds ) don't fight against it as the saying goes live & let live.

Regards to all Snapper.

I forgotton i'd said that. I did get my first ever squirrel in the garden last week :-) I've not seen it since, but hopefully it'll return again.

Jeff

[helenol]

I forgotton i'd said that. I did get my first ever squirrel in the garden last week :-) I've not seen it since, but hopefully it'll return again.

Jeff
You can have some of mine, SEVEN so far! :C

[jeff]

You can have some of mine, SEVEN so far! :C

Send 'em over :-)

I'll take a few of your red kites too ;-)