From John Benham, Uxbridge, Massachusetts, US
I read James Wong’s article on the use of capsaicin to deter mammals from damaging gardens with great interest. Recent development where I live has resulted in an overpopulation of eastern meadow voles.
I noticed that these voles have been happy to eat the accessible parts of jalapeño peppers in the raised vegetable beds in my garden, while the equally accessible habanero peppers have remained untouched. From painful experience, I have found that these habanero peppers are sufficiently high on the Scoville spiciness scale that gloves and a face mask are necessary when preparing them for dehydration.
