Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, Psyche. This user is located in Zone 7a, Maryland. This was originally posted on March 27, 2013.
I use powdered cayenne to keep furry critters out of my EB. Last year, I had trouble finding an ample supply without costing a ton. Chili powder, Korean style pepper, red pepper flakes and taco seasoning are not potent enough.
The place I found it in Maryland was a Whole Foods market with a bulk spice section in Annapolis. It's about $9 a pound, and I don't need a pound. I also tried to find places that sold Frontier spices in bulk. Not all Whole Foods have a bulk spice section. Other places in the country, check Wild Oats, Fred Meyer and Smith's Marketplace.
A little cayenne pepper on the hole in the plastic was enough to deter squirrels from planting acorns in my EB. Raccoons were after the fertilizer and needed and larger dose and sent me on the quest to find cheep large quantities. I sprinkled it on before I put on the cover. I may add some to the fertilizer directly this year.
