It's not clear to me that that should be true. Capsaicin is not an
intrinsically corrosive chemical, nor is it intrinsically damaging to flesh.
The only thing that causes burns when it gets on human flesh is the body's
physiological response to its presence, which only happens because of its
very specific interaction with a receptor that apparently birds don't have.
As a molecule, it contains a phenol and an amide. The phenol is likely
mildly irritating in a non-specfic way, but it's very electron-rich, so its
pKa is going to be pretty high.
Eric Lucas
"Bob Ferapples" <licku45@yqahoo.com> wrote in message
news
1bti2l9oncrkb23lvifapao2jj3laig7u@4ax.com...
> As pointed out to me by an animal protection nut once time when I
> suggested the bird feeder trick, while it's true that birds don't have
> the pain receptors for capsaicin like mammals do it gets in their eyes
> and burns them anyway, imparing their vision. Birds can't fly on
> instruments!
>
>
> On Thu, 12 Oct 2006 20:52:34 GMT, <lucasea@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
>>Good idea! Your post just reminded me that this is an old trick to keep
>>squirrels out of your bird feeder. Apparently mammals have capsaicin pain
>>receptors, but birds don't.
>>
>>Capsaicin cream may work even better on wires, etc., although it's more
>>expensive.
>>
>>Eric Lucas
>>
>>"Bob Ferapples" <licku45@yqahoo.com> wrote in message
>>news:efati21en9kimnooliglbgbor59mh9vnun@4ax.com. ..
>>> In response to the original question, I have found a VERY effective
>>> solution. I bought a container of the hottest powdered pepper I could
>>> find, habanero powder, and sprinkeled it all around my electrical
>>> cords and generator. The miice (rats in my case) walk across it and
>>> get it on their paws, then when they start to chew it burns they
>>> mouths. This by the way is very effective to keep racoons away from
>>> your garden as well. Just remember to wash YOUR hands after working on
>>> it!
>>>
>>> On 10 Sep 2006 10:18:11 -0700, mgkelson@yahoo.com wrote:
>>>
>>>>On Oct. 21, 2003 there was a post on alt.honda that said, in part:
>>>>
>>>>"I have a Honda EM5000SX generator I paid $2100
>>>>for new 5 years ago. It only has about 10 hours on
>>>>it as it's just backup for home. The other day it
>>>>gave no output and turns out some mice got inside
>>>>and ruined the generator portion. The Honda dealer
>>>>where I bought it said it would cost more to replace
>>>>the brushes and other components than to just buy a
>>>>new generator. . ."
>>>>
>>>>Here's some more quotes on mice damage:
>>>>
>>>>Nov. 21, 1999
>>>>" I recently finished rebuilding a (fixing mouse damage)
>>>>Honda EFs-5500 generator. . ."
>>>>
>>>>Sep. 24, 1998
>>>>"I will need to fab up a metal box to keep the mice out
>>>>of the windings. . ."
>>>>
>>>>Jul 30, 2006
>>>>"Mice in my shed have eaten away all insulation
>>>>from the inside of my EU3000is. Seems the
>>>>generator is noticeably louder without the insulation.
>>>>I can not find a dealer who can order these two
>>>>insulation 'blocks' from Honda. Can someone
>>>>please measure both insulation 'blocks' and post
>>>>the dimensions? I will try to glue alternative
>>>>insulation in its place."
>>>>
>>>>I recently took a box cutter and made a small box cardboard box (out of
>>>>a larger one) and put it over my Honda Generator. Then inside the box I
>>>>put a can with holes in it filled with naphthalene moth balls.
>>>>
>>>>Now, one problem that I have is those moth balls really smell bad. In
>>>>fact, they are stinking up my entire garage. That's a relatively small
>>>>problem, though. A bigger potential problem I am wonder about is
>>>>whether the fumes from the moth balls might damage the generator. Given
>>>>the potency of the gas that those moth balls (napthalene), another
>>>>problem, of course, is whether there is a health risk.
>>>>
>>>>Here's an excerpt from something I found on the internet:
>>>>
>>>>"CANCER HAZARD
>>>>Naphthalene may be a CARCINOGEN in humans since it has been show to
>>>>cause nasal and lung cancer in animals. Many scientists believe there
>>>>is no safe level of exposure to a carcinogen."
>>>>
>>>>So, mothballs might not be a great idea, unless you can completely seal
>>>>the container. Even so, the question still exists in regard to the
>>>>generator. Is napthalene safe for a generator?
>>>>
>>>>Does anyone have any other ideas on how to protect a generator from
>>>>mice?
>>>
>>
>