I know a lot of people who have had trouble with squirrels and other little creatures chewing on electrical wires in the attic or yard. How about a spicy capsicum flavored electrical tape to keep them at bay? Nothing says "stay away" like the fresh taste of red peppers.

(Is there a sub-category for pest repellent? I didn't look that hard).
-- tharsaile, Jun 16 2004

Picnic Ant Strip http://www.halfbake...icnic_20Ant_20Strip
For smaller critters. [phoenix, Oct 04 2004]

PC Magazine, John Dvorak (2001) http://www.pcmag.co.../0,1759,8633,00.asp
"Anyway, this guy told me that squirrels are still the biggest hazard to your connection, and the wire companies formulate various plastics blended with capsicum (hot sauce) or other deterrents to keep the squirrels from biting the wires. Unfortunately, some squirrels developed a taste for spicy wires and would seek them out for that jalapeño kick. The ultimate kick is the jolt of DC voltage, which would knock the squirrel to the ground, scorched. Sheesh."
Unfortuantely, I can't find a separate confirmation or source for this product. [jutta, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004]

One such encapsulated capsicum http://www.hytechdi...tors.com/repellent/
"can be mixed into paints, stains, plastics, composites, sealants, and other products" [DrCurry, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004]

//Nothing says "stay away" like the fresh taste of red peppers.//

A shot gun does. Or poison. Or pinning up dead squirrels to your house. Or... [add your own gruesomeness]
-- etherman, Jun 16 2004


I tried this with a dog that had a taste for expensive pieces of horse tack. All that happened was that he developed an appreciation of Cajun cooking.
-- normzone, Jun 16 2004


Might work, but you might get mexicans chewing on your wire instead - especially if you use Chipotle, or plain Jalapeno.
-- energy guy, Jun 16 2004


What if you liked roasted squirrel with jalapenos?
-- DrCurry, Jun 16 2004


[contracts] , I disagree. The mace wouldn't last. Also, Rube Goldberg devices are always quite convoluted, and one does not know what their purpose is. It appears my product is baked.
-- tharsaile, Jun 20 2004


[Tharsaile] this is still a good idea, don't delete it. (I think newbies tend to do that.)

I'd love a Rube Goldberg device right about now. And I say their purpose IS evident, it does what it does in the end, and entertains along the way. (sorry, off topic)
-- dentworth, Jun 21 2004


who the hell is rube goldberg?

P.S I have the Chilli Peppers on CD if thats any use.
-- etherman, Jun 21 2004


a pale imitation of Heath Robinson.
-- engineer1, Jun 21 2004


Who was Rube Goldberg? [etherman], you must remember (actually is was probably before your time)the game Mouse Trap, and then Crazy Clock, made the inventor famous. Look up his website, the pictures are inspirational. Well I think so anyway, he was the first Halfbaker.
-- dentworth, Jun 21 2004


I think that may have been Galileo, er, no Daedalus.
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Jun 21 2004


Oh right [2fries], good call. I wonder if Daedalus had used redpepper on his wings would they have...melted even faster?
-- dentworth, Jun 21 2004


Some people chew on tape. This could solve that problem.
-- DesertFox, Jun 21 2004


Heath and Goldberg were contemporaries, with Heath being born about a decade earlier. Goldberg readily admitted that his works were homages to Heath.
-- bristolz, Jun 21 2004


The best part about this idea is that if you're hungry for chili peppers, all you have to do is chew on the tape!
-- kranedawg, Jun 21 2004


Our dog has no problem eating very spicy (chile heat) food. It just doesn't seem to bother him. What does bother him, immediately and dramatically, is wasabi. This was discovered by offering him a wasabi coated dried pea.
-- bristolz, Jun 28 2004


Read on another website that a woman in Ga won a contest on anti- squirrel device that is supposed to really work. Strobe lights in attic.
-- turner1941, Dec 27 2007



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