How can I stop squirrels from raiding my bird feeders?
The best would be squirrel-proof feeders, but if you don’t want to go that route, then you can try dusting your birdseed with chili powder before putting it in the feeder. They sell expensive “squirrel-repellent” mixtures in birding stores like Wild Birds Unlimited or in birding catalogs like Duncraft, but it’s basically chili powder. I can get huge containers of chili powder for a lot less at bulk superstores like Sam’s Club. Squirrels don’t like the taste, while birds ignore the taste, so it cuts down on how much the squirrels want to eat while not affecting what birds you see. However, a hungry squirrel will eat anything…even doctored birdseed. So, if your birdfeeders are the only easily accessible source of food in your neighborhood, chili powder will only cut down how much they eat, not stop them from eating it. Some people put out food, like ears of corn, especially for the squirrels, in a location away from the bird feeders, in combination with adding chili powder to the birds