The label is the law. Read your product's label before you mix or apply; the rates here come from the labels listed under Sources.
- Active ingredient
- Capsaicin (with oil of black pepper and piperine in Critter Ridder) (CAS 404-86-4)
- Chemical class
- Naturally occurring capsaicinoid; EPA biochemical pesticide used mainly as an animal repellent.[1]
- Mode of action
- Biochemical repellent: irritates animals that touch or taste it; not assigned an IRAC group[1][2]
- Signal word
- Havahart Critter Ridder Animal Repellent Granular: Caution[2]
Why birds aren't repelled
Most wildlife avoids capsaicin's strong odor and taste, but birds can't taste capsaicin and won't be repelled by it.[1]
Where it is used
Apply outdoors on sunny, dry days. Don't put granules on shrub foliage, soft-bodied ornamental plants, or food or feed crops.[2]
To protect a specific spot, such as garbage bags or a shrub, spot-treat the ground around it or lay a border of granules around the whole area.[2]
Indoors, use it only in non-living areas: attics, basements, cellars, storage areas, garages, sheds and barns.[2]
Products and registrations
| Product | Registrant | EPA Reg. No. | Active % | Formulation | Signal word |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Havahart Critter Ridder Animal Repellent Granular[2] | Woodstream Corporation | 50932-10 | 0.697% | ready-to-use granules | Caution |
Label rates
| Product | Use | Pests | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Havahart Critter Ridder Animal Repellent Granular | Lawns, garden paths, flowerbeds, and borders around plants, trees, shrubs or garbage | Dogs, cats, squirrels, chipmunks, skunks, raccoons, groundhogs | 1 lb product per 40 sq ft[2] Indoors, in non-living areas such as attics, basements, garages and sheds only, use 0.25 lb per 15 sq ft. One application lasts up to 30 days; repeat then if needed. |
How to apply it, step by step
1. Protective gear
- Wear gloves when sprinkling the granules; they cause moderate eye irritation, so keep them off your skin, out of your eyes and off your clothing, and wash with soap and water afterward.[2]
2. Before you spray
- It repels dogs, cats, groundhogs, squirrels, chipmunks, skunks and raccoons by smell and taste, for up to 30 days.[2]
- Indoors it is only for non-living areas: attics, basements, cellars, storage areas, garages, sheds and barns.[2]
- Outdoors, apply on a sunny, dry day; don't put it on the leaves of shrubs or soft-bodied ornamental plants, or on food or feed crops.[2]
3. Mixing
- No mixing: sprinkle the granules straight from the container or with a spreader.[2]
4. Applying
- Indoors, sprinkle lightly at 0.25 lb per 15 sq ft on the areas to protect (a 1.25 lb container covers about 75 sq ft).[2]
- Outdoors, sprinkle lightly at 1 lb per 40 sq ft on lawns, garden paths and flowerbeds (1.25 lb covers about 50 sq ft).[2]
- To protect a particular spot (garbage bags, a tree, shrub or ornamental bed), treat the ground around it, ideally as a border all the way around.[2]
5. After you spray
- Repeat after 30 days if needed.[2]
First aid
- In the eyes, hold them open and rinse slowly and gently with water for 15 to 20 minutes, removing contact lenses after the first 5 minutes; on skin or clothing, take off contaminated clothing and rinse for 15 to 20 minutes.[2]
- Call a poison control center or doctor for treatment advice; the label lists 1-800-858-7378 for emergency treatment information.[2]
Storage, spills and disposal
- Store it in its original container, tightly closed so it doesn't lose strength, in a cool, dry place children and pets can't reach.[2]
- Put an empty container in the trash or recycling; for a partly full one, call your local solid waste agency, and never put product down a drain.[2]
From the safety data sheet
- The granules are brown with a peppery odor; the sheet rates them minimally irritating to the eyes, slightly irritating to the skin and not a sensitizer.[3]
- If the granules irritate the skin, wash with plenty of soap and water.[3]
- If swallowed, drink plenty of water and get medical attention; never give liquids to an unconscious person.[3]
- Store the product in its original, tightly closed container in a cool, dry place that children and pets can't reach.[3]
- The sheet expects no chronic effects and lists no ingredient as a carcinogen under OSHA, NTP or IARC.[3]
Safety and environmental hazards
People
Signal word CAUTION: causes moderate eye irritation. Wear gloves when sprinkling granules and wash after handling.[2]
Pets
It is meant to repel dogs and cats; it works by irritating animals that touch or taste it.[2]
Bees and pollinators
NPIC says capsaicin is toxic to bees and other beneficial insects.[1]
Fish and water
NPIC reports half of capsaicin applied to soil broke down in 2 to 8 days and it isn't expected to reach groundwater.[1]
Common questions
- How long does a capsaicin repellent last?
- The Critter Ridder granular label says one application lasts up to 30 days.[2]
- Will hot pepper repellent keep birds away?
- No. NPIC notes birds can't taste capsaicin.[1]
- Is capsaicin safe around bees?
- NPIC says capsaicin is toxic to bees and other beneficial insects.[1]
Sources
- National Pesticide Information Center, “Capsaicin General Fact Sheet.” npic.orst.edu/factsheets/capgen.html (accessed 2026-10-06)
- U.S. EPA Pesticide Product Label System, “Havahart Critter Ridder Animal Repellent Granular label, EPA Reg. No. 50932-10 (EPA-stamped, Nov. 9, 2018).” www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/ppls/050932-00010-20181109.pdf (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Woodstream Corporation, “Havahart Critter Ridder Animal Repellent (granular) Material Safety Data Sheet (Woodstream Corporation, MSDS No. 558, prepared May 28, 2003; EPA Reg. No. 50932-10, the label on this page; copy hosted by DoMyOwn).” www.domyown.com/msds/Critter_Ridder_SDS.pdf (accessed 2026-10-17)