Gardeners are being urged to scatter chilli powder in their gardens this week for a vitally important reason during days of snow warnings and forecasts across the UK. It may sound strange, but the method is the perfect way to leave food out for hungry birds, especially in cold weather, without it being stolen away by other animals and in winter, especially, when birds and wildlife struggle to find food.
Birds have faced challenges in the past year as they have every year for some time now. The massive reduction in insect numbers – down as much as 80 percent in the last 20 years thanks to habitat loss and climate change – is thought to be having knock-on effects right up the food chain, as birds have far less to eat, which is putting birds at risk of starvation. The Big Garden Birdwatch 2025 revealed that the UK has lost 38 million birds in the last 60 years.
That’s one of the reasons why gardeners are being asked to do what they can for birds and leave bird food out as the weather turns colder again this week, thanks to a clutch of snow and ice warnings from the Met Office.
Indeed, the forecaster has put in place four days of ice and snow warnings including rarer amber warnings in Scotland, while most of England and all of Wales is covered by snow warnings until Tuesday.
But one huge problem with leaving bird food out in these difficult cold conditions is that other animals – like squirrels – will try to steal it.
That’s where the chilli powder comes in. If you have a bird feeder or bird table, or something which you leave bird food on for the birds (and if you don’t have one, consider getting one), then you can leave a mix of peanuts, seeds, mealworms and slices of fruit like apple out for birds to eat.
Bruised apples and pears are really attractive to birds, and household scraps like pastry, cooked rice and breadcrumbs can be used too – although you should avoid using too much of these, say the RSPB.
But sprinkle all of it with chilli powder, and the birds will have the food all to themselves. That’s because birds aren’t at all affected by the spicy taste of chilli powder, whereas squirrels and foxes hate it. That means the food is all left just for the birds.
The RSPB says: “When buying bird food, try to get a good mix of peanuts, seeds and live food like mealworms and waxworms.
“Fruit, especially bruised apples and pears, will be popular with thrushes and Blackbirds. Household scraps like pastry, cooked rice and breadcrumbs should only be offered in small amounts occasionally.
“Strong chilli powder or pepper sauce (like Tabasco) can be shaken onto bird food. Birds aren’t bothered by the chilli, but most squirrels can’t put up with the burning sensation and will leave the food alone.”
