I've been experimenting with the use of ground chili peppers as a deterrent
to keep the furry neighbors out of the bird feeders, and can report that
both Douglas' squirrels and chipmunks *are* deterred, although it takes
suprisingly large amounts of chili to be effective. Like, mix a bunch in
with the seed, and then sprinkle more on the seed in the feeder. Got to
watch both squirrel and chipmunk stick their noses up to the feeder, and
decide not to go in. And the birds have no problem with it whatsoever; they
fed as normal. One interesting note, though; banana slugs seem to have some
attraction to chili powder. I've never had them in the feeder before, have
found them in the feeder twice since starting to use chili.

Rob Saecker
Olympia