Overview

• With government data citing more than 2.5 million squirrels in the UK, experts frame the issue as widespread for garden bird-feeders.
• A low-cost step is to mix a little cayenne into seed or use capsaicin-treated seed, as birds lack receptors for spicy heat and squirrels avoid it.
• Specialist hardware is advised, including caged or weighted squirrel-proof feeders with tight lids, plus repositioning away from launch points given squirrels’ four to five feet vertical and eight to 10 feet horizontal leaps.
• Scent deterrents such as diluted peppermint, cinnamon, chilli and garlic oils, as well as citrus peel, coffee grounds or vinegar-soaked cloths, are recommended around poles and tables.
• Secure indoor storage in a metal container, refilling little and often with regular cleaning, and optionally offering a separate nut station or removing other food lures round out the combined strategy.