Woodpeckers are fascinating birds known for their rhythmic drumming and unique ability to bore into trees with their beaks. However, woodpeckers can cause significant damage to wood siding, shingles, trim, and even stucco as they search for insects or create nesting sites. In this article, we’ll explore how to get rid of woodpeckers and keep them from coming back.
How to Get Rid of Woodpeckers?
Successfully removing woodpeckers involves a mix of humane deterrents and habitat modification. Here are the most effective methods:
1. Use Visual Deterrents
Woodpeckers are skittish and often scared off by unfamiliar or shiny objects. You can hang items like reflective tape or aluminum foil strips, mylar balloons with eyespots, pinwheels, or fake owls or hawk decoys (move them periodically so the birds don’t get used to them)
2. Use Sound Repellents
Motion-activated sound deterrents that emit predator calls or high-frequency noises can scare woodpeckers away. Be sure to use sound deterrents intermittently to avoid habituation.
3. Install Physical Barriers
Prevent access to favored pecking spots like installing bird netting a few inches away from the wall to block landing, using hardware cloth or sheet metal over heavily damaged areas, and applying bird spikes on flat surfaces where woodpeckers perch.
4. Fill and Repair Damage
Seal existing holes and cavities with wood filler or caulk. Unrepaired holes attract more woodpeckers and other pests. Painting over repairs can also make surfaces less attractive to peck at.
5. Remove Attractants
If insects are present in your siding or wooden structures, woodpeckers may be pecking to feed. Consider having a pest inspection done and treating the structure if necessary.
How to Prevent Woodpeckers?
Once you’ve gotten rid of the woodpeckers, it’s important to make sure they don’t return.
- Maintain Your Home’s Exterior: Regularly inspect and maintain wood siding and trim. Repaint or stain wood surfaces, as treated surfaces are less appealing to peck at.
- Address Insect Infestations: Woodpeckers often feed on carpenter bees, ants, and larvae found in or under wood. Keeping your home pest-free is essential.
- Install Long-Term Deterrents: Keep visual deterrents in place, especially during spring and fall when woodpeckers are most active. Bird netting is especially effective as a long-term solution.
- Limit Nesting Opportunities: Trim trees and branches that are close to your house. Woodpeckers often nest in nearby trees and may move to the house if the opportunity arises.
Conclusion
While woodpeckers are protected birds under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, that doesn’t mean you have to tolerate them damaging your property. With the right methods, you can easily get rid of woodpeckers. If your efforts don’t work, consider reaching out to a professional pest control expert who can assess the situation and provide best solutions.
