Households are being urged to put chilli powder in their gardens in February for a really important reason. It does sound quite odd, but the method is the perfect way to leave food out for hungry birds without it being stolen away by other animals in the coldest winter months.
This past week has seen snow and ice cause chaos for the UK with plunging temperatures and thick snowfall settling in our gardens as well as out on the roads. And when conditions get this cold, it can be a nightmare for wildlife like birds who rely on our gardens, and access to the worms in our lawns and flowerbeds now frozen solid or buried under a blanket of snow. Birds are facing challenges in 2026, as they have every year for some time now.
The massive reduction in insect numbers – down as much as 80% in the last 20 years thanks to habitat loss and climate change – is thought to be having knock-on effects right up the food chain, as birds have far less to eat, which is putting birds at risk of starvation.
The Big Garden Birdwatch 2025 revealed that the UK has lost 38 million birds in the last 60 years.
That’s one of the reasons why people across Britain are being asked to do what they can for birds and leave bird food out as the weather stays cold.
But one huge problem with leaving bird food out is that other animals – like squirrels – will try to steal it.
That’s where the chilli powder comes in. If you have a birdbath or bird table, or something which you leave bird food on for the birds (and if you don’t have one, consider getting one), then you can leave a mix of peanuts, seeds, mealworms and slices of fruit like apple out for birds to eat.
Bruised apples and pears are really attractive to birds, and household scraps like pastry, cooked rice and breadcrumbs can be used too – although you should avoid using too much of these, say the RSPB.
But lace all of it with chilli powder, and the birds will have the food all to themselves. That’s because birds aren’t at all affected by chilli powder, whereas squirrels and foxes hate it. Meaning the food is all for the birds.
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The RSPB says: “When buying bird food, try to get a good mix of peanuts, seeds and live food like mealworms and waxworms.
“Fruit, especially bruised apples and pears, will be popular with thrushes and Blackbirds. Household scraps like pastry, cooked rice and breadcrumbs should only be offered in small amounts occasionally.
“Strong chilli powder or pepper sauce (like Tabasco) can be shaken onto bird food. Birds aren’t bothered by the chilli, but most squirrels can’t put up with the burning sensation and will leave the food alone.”
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