Q&A for How to Get Rid of Animal Pests With Hot Pepper Spray

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I added cayenne pepper to water and both sprayers seized up when I sprayed it. Why? And what can I do to prevent that?

Community Answer

I learned this the hard way also. Any kind of powder will clog up a sprayer. It's best to use large pepper flakes, cook them as specified here, then strain them with a fine mesh strainer. Cheesecloth inside the strainer prevents small particles from leaching through.

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Question

Squirrels are chewing on my wood porch and steps. Will this spray help with this problem?

Community Answer

It should repel all rodents, including squirrels. When sprayed on a non-organic surface it may come off more easily and is almost guaranteed to wash off when it's raining, so you'll have to apply it more frequently. Because you will be walking on the steps, make sure that you don't accidentally get it in your eyes (it sounds odd, but it's amazing how substances can get from one surface to another so easily, eventually getting into the worst places).

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Question

Does this pepper spray work on rats?

Community Answer

No. But peppermint oil does! Just a few drops will be sufficient to make the rats disappear.

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Question

Will it make my vegetables taste like hot pepper sauce?

Community Answer

No, it would only taste like hot pepper sauce if you put it on your vegetables and then ate them immediately without washing them.

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Question

Is there a difference in dried hot peppers and crushed red pepper? I am a bit confused as I bought a package of crushed chili peppers which look like the peppers in the above photo, but is there a difference between dried and crushed?

Community Answer

No difference. Just that they are the dried version of the fresh ones. First soak for 30 minutes and then follow the same process.

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Will hot pepper spray keep deer away?

Community Answer

Yes, this should be effective for deer.

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Can pepper spray be used on the lawn to keep geese away?

Community Answer

No, they are not impacted by the pepper spray.

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Question

Will this hot pepper spray affect birds?

Community Answer

No. Birds don't have the right taste receptors. Some birds even like to eat hot peppers.

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Question

Will hot pepper spray kill grubs?

Community Answer

They might, but nematodes will kill grubs more effectively, and they are usually available at your local hardware store. (If not, they should be able to order them for you.)

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Question

I am overrun with groundhogs. How can I get rid of them?

Community Answer

Go to the dollar store, get a bunch of toy pinwheels and stick them in the ground wherever you have issues with them. Vibrations from the stick as the wind blows them will drive the groundhogs away.

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Can I use this to keep bears away from garbage cans?

Community Answer

You can try this to keep bears away from garbage cans, but you may want to look into stronger options to keep bears away as well.

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Question

Will the hot pepper spray hurt my frogs and toads when I am trying to get rid of animal pests?

Community Answer

Very likely. Amphibians breathe and absorb moisture through their skin, making their whole body a mucus membrane. Avoid using this spray around all amphibians.

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Question

Would hot crushed red pepper keep blackbirds away from my feeder?

Community Answer

No, birds are not affected by capsaicin. Spicy plants actually evolved capsaicin to deter mammals from eating them because we are less efficient seed dispersers. Birds are their target consumers.

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