Capsaicin as a tool for repelling southern flying squirrels from red-cockaded woodpecker cavities

The southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) is an important kleptoparasite of cavities excavated by the imperiled red-cockaded woodpecker (Dryobates borealis). Flying squirrel usurpation of cavities may affect woodpecker productivity, but current efforts to manage flying squirrels are costly and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inHuman-wildlife interactions Vol. 13; no. 1; pp. 79 - 86
Main Authors Meyer, Robert T., Cox, James A.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Logan Utah State University - Berryman Institute 01.04.2019
Jack H. Berryman Institute
Utah State University
Subjects
Alliances
Animal behavior
Birds
Capsaicin
Cavities
deterrent
Glaucomys volans
Holes
Mammals
picoides borealis
red-cockaded woodpecker
Rodents
Snakes
southern flying squirrel
Squirrels
Trees
Water treatment
United States > US
Texas
Georgia
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Summary:The southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) is an important kleptoparasite of cavities excavated by the imperiled red-cockaded woodpecker (Dryobates borealis). Flying squirrel usurpation of cavities may affect woodpecker productivity, but current efforts to manage flying squirrels are costly and time consuming. We assessed whether capsaicin could deter flying squirrel use of woodpecker cavities on a site in southwest Georgia, USA. Twenty-nine cavity tree clusters received 4 treatments: capsaicin, water, air, and a control (no treatment). Only capsaicin both removed more flying squirrels from the cavity immediately after its application and decreased the probability of a flying squirrel occupying the cavity the next day. The data presented supports the potential of capsaicin to provide a more efficient way for dealing with this common kleptoparasite.
ISSN:2155-3858
2155-3874
2155-3874
DOI:10.26076/1gam-zv73