Chili Peppers in Suet to deter Racoons?

I saw some suet cakes in a catalog (Foster and Smith, I think) that had hot chilies in them. At first glance, I thought it was kind of weird, but then started thinking about the amount of suet I feed to the racoons every year. They clean me out every night and then there is none left for the birds-they seem to be able to get around every baffle I've tried. (They also get my oriole feeders and grape jelly, but that's another post . . .they have cost me a lot of money this summer!). Anyway, I've read that chili can deter squirrels, so I was thinking that maybe it would also deter racoons? I called the catalog folks and they told me that "yes it should help with the racoons", so I wrote up an order, but when I was totalling it, the shipping was absolutely horrendous on 6 suet cakes so I backed out. I can't find any locally to try it out, so I've decided that next spring I should make my own (they'll be going into hibernation soon-in fact I haven't seen them for a week or so). My questions are-does anyone know if peppers will actually make the suet nasty for the racoons but not bother the birds, and if so, how much pepper should I use in a standard suet cake?

Thanks!
Deb

Hi Deb, Although I don't use that particular brand I do have Hot Pepper Suet that I put in the tree's and the squirrels leave it alone. I don't have racoons but I would imagine it would help alot.

I've tried making it myself but no matter how much cayenne pepper I use the squirrels ate it so I went back to the store bought type.
If you have a bird store near you they might order it for you.Thats where I buy mine. I've tried a few brands and my favorite is Pine Tree Farm,here's a pic.
http://pinetreefarmsinc.com/images/HPSTCK.JPG It also comes in a No Melt and seems to last much longer than a no melt by another well known company.

In this Sticky thread are recipes for making suet in the 2nd post.You can cut the recipe in half but be sure to use more cayenne pepper than is called for. You could try it to see if you have better luck than I did.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/805666/

Hope this helps. Pelle

Raccoons don't hibernate...I have to bring in my suet feeders at night because of the raccoons.

Nanny, they seem to hibernate around here-at least they slow way down because they don't bother my suet from fall until spring (nor do I see them on the roads).

Pelle, thank you for the tips, I was thinking about adding whole dried peppers to mine-they sell them in bulk at my Walmart. Maybe the suet would be spicier that way?

This year was worse for the racoons than usual, and I 'm not really sure why. I had them at my cabin, which is usual but I also had them at home. We live in a small town and we have a lake nearby and a golf course behind us. The buggers would come nightly and drain my oriole/hummingbird feeders and break off the perches. I couldn't figure out what was going on until I finally caught one in the act. I finally did mange to keep one oriole feeder safe from them by creating my own baffle on a horizontal pole coming off my deck. I had to stop putting grape jelly out at home because they would just break everything trying to get at it. My catbirds ended up going someplace else-I was so sad.

I have a few plans to foil them next year, hopefully I can find something that will work!

Thanks again!
Deb

I have made my own suet for the birds to foil the squirrels. Plain cayenne pepper doesn't necessarily work. You need to put fresh hot peppers in the blender or Cuisinart and pulverize it so they get a hunk of it not that it looks like a hunk. Most of the red pepper we get is old and not all that hot. Habaneros/Scotch Bonnets are the hottest and add a touch of vinegar along w/lard,etc. Squirrels can really jump so to have a sq. proof feeder we have to have a greased pole in the middle of the yard many feet away from any branches, overhangs, etc. There is one brand of feeder that we use that you can put any food in there that you want and it will keep all critters including very large birds such as White Wing Doves out. Of course the old memory is failing me at this particular moment so the only part of the name of the feeders I can recall right now is "Yankee" something or other. I'm sure you can google and find it. It is expensive but worth it and it can be used anywhere and even the squirrels can't get in there but is is a hoot to watch them try.
Edited to say that I found a similar bunch of feeders. Try "Heritage" feeders. (Boy, I'm really not w/it today!)
Ann

This message was edited Sep 29, 2008 9:14 AM

I have a Squirrel Buster Plus hanging in a tree that squirrels can't get into.

I'll have to try the whole pepper thing some time.

My answer to the racoons is to bring all of the feeders in every night and put them back out in the morning. After doing that for a month, they haven't climbed my fence again. The next door neighbors still have them tho, so they may come back.