ANIMAL CONTROL RECIPE
Squirrel Repellent
A cayenne-and-peppermint spray protects bulbs and bird feeders from squirrels without harming them — squirrels taste the heat immediately and move on.
Prep: 10 minutes
Yields: about 1 quart
Organic-friendly
Ingredients
1 quart water
2 tablespoons cayenne pepper
15 drops peppermint essential oil
1 teaspoon mild liquid dish soap
Instructions
1
Combine the water and cayenne pepper in a pot and bring to a simmer for 5 minutes.
2
Let cool completely, then strain out the pepper through cheesecloth.
3
Stir in the peppermint oil and dish soap.
4
Spray on bulb beds, planters, and around feeders, reapplying after rain.
Tip: Birds can't taste capsaicin, so this spray is safe to use around feeders without bothering the birds you actually want visiting.
