Ghost peppers are saving U.S. grasslands—by scaring off hungry mice

[rangerrebew]

Ghost peppers are saving U.S. grasslands—by scaring off hungry mice

By Elizabeth GamilloAug. 3, 2018 , 3:00 PM

Conservationists trying to restore the United States’s grasslands kept running into a problem: As soon as they planted the seeds meant to bring back native flora, hungry mice would gobble them up. In an effort to deter the rodents, biologists tried coating the seeds with capsaicin, the active ingredient that gives chili peppers their signature fiery taste. It worked: Dusting the seeds with chili powder reduced the number

http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/08/ghost-peppers-are-saving-us-grasslands-scaring-hungry-mice

[XenaLee]

Ghost peppers are saving U.S. grasslands—by scaring off hungry mice

By Elizabeth GamilloAug. 3, 2018 , 3:00 PM

Conservationists trying to restore the United States’s grasslands kept running into a problem: As soon as they planted the seeds meant to bring back native flora, hungry mice would gobble them up. In an effort to deter the rodents, biologists tried coating the seeds with capsaicin, the active ingredient that gives chili peppers their signature fiery taste. It worked: Dusting the seeds with chili powder reduced the number

http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/08/ghost-peppers-are-saving-us-grasslands-scaring-hungry-mice

I may have to try that in the garden.   It has long been suspected that something has been eating seeds I've planted.   Just might work to solve that. 

[catfish1957]

http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/08/ghost-peppers-are-saving-us-grasslands-scaring-hungry-mice

So what happens (via cross pollination) when the grasslands become too  hot to eat for any other creature?   

You might laugh, but a couple of years ago, we got some bell peppers that had to have the scoville content of a poblano.

[XenaLee]

So what happens (via cross pollination) when the grasslands become too  hot to eat for any other creature?   

You might laugh, but a couple of years ago, we got some bell peppers that had to have the scoville content of a poblano.

That only works with the actual plants though... not the seeds.   And poblanos are relatively mild (my favorite pepper).

[catfish1957]

That only works with the actual plants though... not the seeds.   And poblanos are relatively mild (my favorite pepper).

Me too, excpept when I discovered Hatch Peppers.  Pretty hard to get since the real good ones only come form NM.

[Joe Wooten]

So what happens (via cross pollination) when the grasslands become too  hot to eat for any other creature?   

You might laugh, but a couple of years ago, we got some bell peppers that had to have the scoville content of a poblano.

I did that 30 years ago by planting bell peppers in the same garden as jalapenos. We got hot bells and sweet jalapenos.....