Though fascinating and important to the ecosystem, woodpeckers can cause problems for homeowners. Frequently in the fall, woodpeckers can damage the exterior of buildings with cedar, pine, fir, even redwood or plywood siding, including even aluminum flashing or vinyl siding.
They seem to prefer wood that is brown or gray or natural-stained. Though woodpeckers are attracted to rotten wood, selecting a building does not necessarily indicate the presents of insects or unsound wood. Woodpeckers are strictly protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and by state law. It is illegal to destroy, relocate, or possess these birds, their eggs, or nests. So what can a homeowner do to prevent damage?
The best methods are to discourage woodpeckers by scaring them away, or by using materials to prevent them from causing damage. Scare tactics may include yelling, clapping, loud music, or gently spraying with a garden hose. Hang strips of high-reflective tape or aluminum pie plates on strong over or near to the affected.
The first reason is to be expected: they are trying to attract a potential mate. Luckily, any loud noise they make for show is less likely to cause significant damage to your home.
A woodpecker can create a large hole in siding for a nest, and once it settles in, it may stay there until the fledglings are ready to go on their own.
Under the North American Migratory Bird Act, woodpeckers are a protected species, and it is illegal to disturb their nests. The third reason is also a big cause for concern. Woodpeckers peck when they search for food. Most homeowners assume that they have termites when woodpeckers are a constant nuisance, but it could be other insects, such as ants and spiders, that they are looking for. You can tell the difference between nesting and foraging based on the size and pattern of the holes.
A single large hole is obviously a nest, whereas a series of small or irregular holes in a line is a buffet. Carpenter Bee Removal Buy Now! Hornet Removal Buy Now! Ants Bed Bugs Stink Bugs. Carpenter Bees Mosquitoes. Carpenter Ants Termites. Posted by: Cooper Pest. Photo credit: Wikipedia Their specialized beaks are designed for breaking wooden areas on or around your home, making them a notable, damaging pest in the New Jersey and Pennsylvania area.
Photo credit: Friends of Santa Teresa Park If you suspect that you have woodpecker activity at your home, ask yourself the following questions: Do I see small holes on my wood siding, deck, and trees? Do I hear a loud, repetitive knocking sound while inside and outside of your home? Are there woodpeckers on your property beginning in spring?
Have I been experiencing carpenter bee activity? Photo credit: Colorado State University Extension If you answered yes to these questions, woodpeckers have most likely taken refuge by your home.
Carpenter Bees Carpenter bee larvae are a prime delicacy, highly sought out when the females burrow into wood such as your shudders, siding, or any unpainted wood on your property and lay their eggs. Termites Termites thrive on moist or decaying wood around your property to create their nest and grow their colony. Wood Boring Beetles Wood boring beetles cause damage to your home as the larvae find a suitable nesting source such as a doorframe, windowsill, door, or trees.
Want a Free Estimate? Need to Schedule Service? Have a Questions? Recent Posts. A hunting woodpecker may only cause cosmetic damage, while nesting woodpeckers can create much larger holes. Your homeowners insurance policy will most likely not cover woodpecker damage. Generally, yes. Woodpeckers eat lots of insects that are pests to us, including termites, ants, and mosquitoes. Owls and hawks are their natural predators, and so plastic owls or hawks may scare them off.
However, this usually only works temporarily. Dead tree limbs on the ground can be very attractive to woodpeckers — that wood is full of insects for them to eat. A good suet feeder like this one will surely attract some woodpeckers. Woodpeckers can cause serious damage, in addition to just being incredibly annoying. Unfortunately, getting rid of woodpeckers is very difficult.
The biggest problem is that woodpeckers are intelligent birds, and so control methods like plastic owls are, at best, a temporary solution. Given time they can learn to tell plastic and real owls apart, and your plastic owls will no longer be an effective deterrent. Aluminum foil, reflective streamers, and other shiny objects have been found to be among the most reliable and effective methods of controlling woodpeckers.
A good way to improve the odds of this working is to play woodpecker distress calls and hang something shiny up outside.
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