Adding chilli powder to bird food is a wildlife-friendly method to deter squirrels and keep birds well-fed during the crucial May nesting season
Alex Evans Deputy Audience Editor
09:16, 05 May 2026
Gardeners are being urged to put chilli powder in their gardens(Image: Alex Evans)
Gardeners are being advised to sprinkle chilli powder in their gardens this May for a crucial purpose. While it may sound peculiar, this technique proves ideal for providing sustenance to famished birds as we transition into the milder spring period, while preventing theft by other creatures. With nesting season reaching its height, it becomes a particularly critical time.
Birds have encountered difficulties over recent years, now attributed to habitat destruction and the comparative shortage of food sources. Gardeners have noted witnessing considerably fewer birds than usual, with the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch documenting the decline in bird populations within people’s gardens across recent decades.
The dramatic decrease in insect numbers – plummeting by as much as 80% over the last 20 years due to habitat loss and climate change – is believed to be creating ripple effects throughout the food chain, as birds have substantially less to consume, which is placing birds in danger of starvation.
That’s precisely why numerous gardeners attempt to assist birds by leaving out food, particularly during the crucial nesting season.
However, one significant challenge with leaving bird food out is that other creatures – like squirrels – will attempt to pilfer it. That’s where the chilli powder proves useful.
If you have a birdbath or bird feeder, then you can leave mealworms, suet, fat balls and slices of fruit like apple out for birds to eat. Bruised apples and pears prove particularly appealing to birds, while household leftovers such as pastry, cooked rice and breadcrumbs can also be utilised – though the RSPB advises against excessive amounts of these items, reports the Express.
However, coat everything with chilli powder, and the birds will have exclusive access to the feast. This works because birds remain completely unaffected by chilli powder, while squirrels and foxes detest it – leaving all the sustenance for our feathered friends.
The RSPB explains: “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.”
That said, abandon flat bird tables – the RSPB withdrew these from sale in 2024 amid concerns they were facilitating disease transmission.
Additionally, refrain from leaving out seeds or peanuts between 1st May and 31st October. The RSPB suspects that seeds and nuts might be spreading disease which is proving fatal to birds, despite well-intentioned enthusiasts attempting to help by providing the seed.
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