How to Prevent Woodpecker Damage

Even those birders that are eager to attract native birds will find the relentless hammering of woodpeckers and the damage that comes along with them. They can quickly destroy a wall, fancy, deck or other structures. Here’s how to prevent woodpecker damage, without hurting the little guys.

Why Woodpeckers Peck

The first step to stopping this damage is to understand why it’s happening. For the most part, woodpeckers peck because:

They are drumming. The noise they make while pecking can be used to make noise that attracts a mate or alerts other woodpeckers that the property is claimed.

They are feeding. To gather food from inside wooden surfaces, woodpeckers peck on it. This allows them to create holes to collect beetles, bugs, larvae and general pests that they feed on. This leaves shallow but extensive holes in the surface.

They are nesting. This species of birds nest in cavities that are created by hollowing out an area on a surface. This type of damage is localized to one area but you may find several other test sites close buy. The actual nesting hole will be quite large and deep with one entrance.

Controlling Woodpeckers

Most homeowners subscribe to one of two approaches to discourage this kind of damage on their property. The birds can be deterred enough to move completely from the area. The other is to redirect their efforts to an area where the damage isn’t an issue. Depending on the damage and the owner, the birds might be welcomed guests provided they are not damaging the property. If they become problematic, they will need to be relocated entirely.

Redirection Techniques

Woodpeckers find a region they are comfortable in to practice all of their acts. You can discourage their damage from certain areas using the following techniques. This will encourage them to move to the areas you deem appropriate.

Tree Removal or Pruning: If there are large trees near your home or big branches the woodpeckers seem to favor, prune them back. Because woodpeckers like to stay in thicker cover, thinning out the trees will make them feel exposed. They will naturally seek areas with more branches and coverage.

Feeding Woodpeckers: Stop the woodpeckers foraging for bugs in your wooden house by providing tasty treats for them in an easier place. Put suet, mealworms and jelly in areas that are good for the woodpeckers like a big tree branch away from your home.

Woodpecker Houses: Offering a pre-made birdhouse for woodpeckers to live in will encourage them to skip building a home (and a lot of pecking). Place the house near where the pecking was happening. This is obviously a desirable nesting site for the birds. They won’t pass up the pre-made home.

Drumming Locations: Place a hollow tree or stump away from your home to give the woodpeckers a place to drum. It will minimize the sounds to you and keep them from your walls by creating a place to allow the activity that you decide is more acceptable. At the same time, place insulation, foam or padding behind the unwanted drumming place. This will dampen the sounds and make the woodpeckers want to move to where they can be more effective.

Pest Control: If the woodpeckers are feeding on insects they are finding in your home, contact a pest control company to get rid of them. With no dinner in your home, the woodpeckers will go elsewhere for dinner.

Repair Holes: Using filler or wood putty, repair the holes the woodpeckers have made. The holes left behind are very comfortable for more insects to move into. Filling the holes removes the snacks from inside, reinforcing the woodpecker to move.

Eradication of Woodpeckers

If the birds don’t respond to these redirection techniques, there are a few stronger ways to push woodpeckers to find a new home.

Scare Techniques: Scaring the birds can be a good way to move them to someone else’s yard. Woodpeckers respond to loud noises, including bird alarms or wind chimes. Other homeowners found success using the hose to spray at the birds when they begin drumming. These will take diligence and might not work if the birds have already decided your property is home.

Reflections: Woodpeckers are not keen on anything bright or reflective. Pecking metal frightens them. Use outside decor to mask your anti-woodpecker techniques. Metal pie plates, mylar strips, old cds or small mirrors hung from fishing line or string is great. Try to get them close to the area the woodpecker is attacking. This allows a small breeze to activate them and make them move, scaring the birds.

Movement: These birds are timid by nature and scared by movement. Use the wind to help your efforts by hanging flags, streamers or windsocks close to the area. The movement is enough to push the birds to a more sedentary yard.

Covering Wood: Without wood, the woodpeckers have nothing to do, eat or make a home in. Cover the wooden area with foam, netting or cloth. Chicken wire or fishing line can also keep birds away from the wood but will most likely need to be left up permanently to keep the birds from doing damage.

Decoy Birds: Placing natural predators in your yard can work similarly to a scarecrow in keeping the birds at bay. Plastic or carved owls and hawks will send the woodpeckers packing on to the next place.

To be sure you get rid of the drumming pests, try to use several methods from above to get the most effective woodpecker removal system.

Woodpecker Deterrents to Avoid

The internet is teeming with ideas of quick fixes to remove woodpeckers from your yard. Here are some that are never going to help your situation. Always avoid these methods.

Do not apply sticky or greasy products to the wood the birds are pecking. These products can coat the birds’ plumage and can be dangerous or toxic. Further, these products are likely to stain or warp the wood and may cause additional damage.

Do not damage or remove eggs from an established woodpecker nest. Woodpeckers are protected under the Migratory Bird Act and such actions are illegal without the proper authorization.

Do not injure or attempt to capture the birds. This is also illegal under the Migratory Bird Act and can result in fines or jail time for any violations.

In extreme cases, even using several woodpecker deterrents may not be effective. If this happens, contacting local wildlife control offices or pest control companies with experience in discouraging pest birds can be a last resort to stop woodpecker house damage.

Repair Damage

If you have been the victim of woodpecker damage, our teams can help. We are knowledgeable in the repair and restaining or repainting of woodpecker damage. To make your home pristine again, schedule and estimate appointment. We’re happy to discuss the damage and potential repairs for your home.