How To Get Rid of Animal Pests With Hot Pepper Spray
Bears, rabbits, deer, and Squirrels can be troublesome if they eat your plants and bird food.One way to deter these animals is by spraying cayenne, chili, or jalapeno peppers with a compound called capsaicin that causes a burning sensation when an animal eats or touches it.If you make the spray, you can apply it to plants, bird seed, and even hiking gear to repel pests.
Step 1: The supplies are needed to make an anti-pest spray.
The compound in hot peppers called capsaicin is irritant to most animals if they smell or taste it.To make the spray, you need water, hot pepper flakes or chopped hot peppers, and dish soap.You can buy hot pepper flakes at most grocery stores, or you can order them online.
Step 2: In a pot, add 1 gallon of water and 3 grams of pepper flakes.
The water will release the capsaicin into the mixture and make it more potent.You can use 10 chopped cayenne or jalapeno peppers if you don't have hot pepper flakes.
Step 3: The mixture should be cooked over high heat for 15 minutes.
Put the pot on a burner and cover it with a lid.Wait for the water to reach a boil, then lower the temperature to a medium heat.Once the pepper is in the water, stir the mixture regularly.If there is a lot of steam rising from the pot, your eyes may start to water.Try to keep your face away from the steam, and leave the pot partially covered while you stir.
Step 4: Allow the mixture to stand for 24 hours after it is removed from the heat.
After the heating process is over, the spray needs to be infused for a longer period of time to become potent.If you want to diffuse the pepper flavor into the water, place the pot in a safe area.Some gardeners will allow their mixture to sit for up to 48 hours.If you only plan to use the spray in your garden, this may not be necessary.
Step 5: Remove the water from the peppers.
Put the liquid through a sieve and put the water in a pot under it.The hot pepper spray will be behind the water.You don't want the hot peppers suspended in the water since you're going to be spraying the liquid.They can make your spray less effective.
Step 6: Add the soap to the liquid.
The dish soap helps the spray stick to the plants.You should only add the soap to the liquid after the pepper is strained out of the water.The soap will get strained out if they are still in the water.A castile soap is safe for outdoor use.It won't hurt your plants or soil, but it will add some stick power to the spray.
Step 7: Take the liquid and put it in a spray bottle.
To prevent a mix-up, label the bottle and write the date on the outside, since the spray will be most effective if used within a few months.When you are ready to use the spray, make sure the cap and nozzle are secured and shake the bottle vigorously.If you get a liquid on your hands while pouring it into the bottle, wash them immediately and avoid touching your face.
Step 8: To deter deer and rabbits, spray the liquid on and around plants.
In the morning or evening, mist the leaves, stems, and soil surrounding the plants that the deer and rabbits like best.Animals can sometimes eat the unsprayed parts of the plant, so make sure you spray every part of it.If you don't know how sensitive the plants are, you can test a small area of a leaf.If the plant doesn't react, you should be able to use the spray.ivy, fern, Succulents, palms, some types of tomatoes, and azaleas are known to be sensitive to pesticides.If you apply the spray in the middle of the day, the heat from the sun will cause it to bake the leaves and kill the plant.
Step 9: If you have squirrels, apply the spray to the bird feeders.
Birds and Squirrels are not the same when it comes to peppers.You can spray the mixture on your bird feeders.When the squirrels eat the seeds, they will experience a burning sensation in their mouths and won't revisit the bird feeders.The birds are not going to eat the spray.They will still be able to enjoy the seeds even though they don't have the same reaction to the spray.
Step 10: Use pepper spray to protect against bears.
A lot of bear sprays are just pepper spray.To make your own emergency spray, replace the spray recipe with 24 large chopped cayenne peppers, and reduce the amount of water to 2 cups.It's a good idea to put the liquid into a spray bottle to carry with you while hiking or camping in case of a bear encounter.If bears come to your yard, spray the areas they frequent.For an extra layer of safety, you can use a spray with less power on camping materials, like your tent and the outside of your cooler.If you're using a potent spray, keep pets away from the sprayed areas.
Step 11: After rain, apply the spray every week.
The spray won't last forever on plants.During the spring, summer, and fall you should go through your garden once per week to make sure your plants are protected from pests.If it rains, try to apply the spray again as soon as possible.Try spraying as many plants as you can if you notice that the animal pests are avoiding the areas that you have sprayed.The animals will look for food elsewhere if your garden is unsafe.