Capsaicin & Bird Feeders

Flagstaff, United States

Lately, I have seen several youtube videos and read about using birdseed mixed with hot peppers to prevent squirrels and other mammals from stealing from bird feeders. when I started mixing cayenne pepper with bird seed in our bird feeders, I noticed immediately more hungry birds while squirrels avoided our bird feeders.

However, I noticed the ravens that frequent our yard seem to have a problem with the cayenne. The ravens quickly grab a morsel of dried dog food and then hop over to a bird bath to soak it. I don't know if they are trying to wash the pepper off or soften the food. I don't recall them being so cagey when picking up food in the past. Does anyone have comments about hot pepper and bird food, ravens (and other corvids), and peppers or the practice in general?

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