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As middling as woodpeckers are when you see them in the wild , these noisy birds can cause major equipment casualty to trees and wooden structure on your prop if they are give neglected . In fact , a study in Human - Wildlife Conflicts showsthat of 1,185 sign of the zodiac survey in a New York town , 33 percentage had property terms or disturbance mental disturbance cause by peckerwood . The study also get hold that pecker were more likely to damage well-grooved plyboard siding than spit - and - channel , display board - and - batten , weatherboarding , or nonwood side types .

You ’re most potential to find woodpeckers in the spring , which is mating time of year . That ’s when the medium - size doll are most active and noisy , drumming to appeal mate and label their territories . The hallmark pecking is a signaling that the birds are nearby , and may well be the case of any hole that you find in your trees — or your dwelling .

Two colorful woodpeckers perch on bricks of home, pecking holes in exterior.

Photo: istockphoto.com

Prevent pecker from taking over your outdoor space with these tips for handling the winged bad hat .

Project Overview

Working Time:5 to 10 minutes

Total Time:10 mo

Skill Level : Beginner

Woodpecker pecks at siding of building that already has damage from the black, white, and red bird.

Photo: istockphoto.com

forecast Cost:$5 to $ 30

Tools & Materials

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Before You Begin

When getting rid of woodpeckers , always use safe , non - lethal methods to discourage these birds and avoid harming them . peckerwood , along with their nests and eggs , are protect by police force in many realm and kill or harm them can lead in effectual consequences .

Signs of Woodpecker Damage

woodpecker have scant , sharp beaks that can make holes in the turnout of a building or the trunk of a tree diagram . Rows of little , round holes in vertical lines in wooden structures like railroad siding , tree trunks , or fences , are in all likelihood cause by woodpeckers . The muddle are typically about the size of a quarter .

Damaged areas often show polarity of unclothe and splintering , exposing the interior stratum of the forest aerofoil . Larger holes probably indicate a woodpecker is trying to make a nest cavity .

Why do woodpeckers peck?

Woodpeckers peck for a variety of reasons . fit in to David Mizejewski , a naturalist with the National Wildlife Federation , woodpeckers drill into wood mostly “ because they ’re insectivore and they ’re looking for beetle larvae , termites and ants and things like that , that are going to be populate in the idle , decaying woodwind instrument . ” He adds that carpenter bees are another of their favourite intellectual nourishment . woodpecker ’ strong bill are designed to cheat into tree barque and other types of Sir Henry Joseph Wood to uncover these insects .

Woodpeckers also might be storing solid food like acorn in the holes they make , or creating nesting bodily cavity in orotund holes . Sometimes , they are just making enough noise to back their title on a territory and draw in a Paraguay tea .

Most neighborhoods have copious trees for these birds to peck — why would they also want to peck your house siding ? “ The reason peckerwood would be drilling into your house is if you have wood that is beginning to rot , ” Mizejewski says . “ You want to take care of that right away . If the wood [ railroad siding ] is deteriorating to the dot where insects are getting into it , that ’s actually a bigger issue that you should be worried about . ”

A woodpecker pecks at a wooden plank that already has rows of quarter-sized holes create by the bird’s pecking.

Photo: istockphoto.com

Mizejewski suggests replace any wood siding or trim on your home that isbeginning to rot , which “ will solve 99 percent of the problem , ” he say .

How to Get Rid of Woodpeckers

If you ’re wondering how to get rid of a woodpecker that ’s already made itself at home in your yard , the most important thing to remember is to avoid result , like sticky trap , that could harm the birds . Instead , try one of these scare manoeuvre :

How to Stop Woodpeckers From Pecking Your House

If you try the methods above and are n’t successful , there are a few other techniques you could seek to put an close to the incessant drumming of woodpeckers on the house .

How to Keep Woodpeckers From Coming Back

Even if you successfully fright invading woodpeckers aside , you might have a big job on your hand : an dirt ball infestation .

visit the areas around the holes that the woodpecker has made to see ifcarpenter ant , carpenter bees , ortermitesare present . If you regain dirt ball , we do n’t recommend using insecticides to get free of them — insect powder are potential to kill the woodpeckers too . Instead , opt for afruity , herbal , or goop - laden solutionfor insect infestation . If you ca n’t get rid of the bugs by eco - well-disposed way , consult with your local wildlife or pestis expert to determine the best solution for getting rid of insect and to keep woodpeckers from give .

Remember to secure up any jam made by wood - drill insects . This will pin the louse late inside the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree so they will die off , and other members of the colony will not be able-bodied to enter the social system well . The fewer insects there are in tree diagram , the less cause woodpeckers have to riposte to your yard and stimulate further damage .

Scare owl hung from roof of home to scare off damage-causing birds, such as woodpeckers.

Photo: istockphoto.com

Final Thoughts

These woodpecker - repelling solutions are the best , most humane ways to solve woodpecker egress on your holding . While it ’s important to protect your dwelling house and the trees that surround it , it ’s as important to prise these protect birds .

If these method give out , or if you have questions about how to put this advice into practice on your own prop , Mizejewski recommend confer a localwildlife expert .

“ The good matter to do may be to call a professional wildlife removal company who has experience dealing with woodpecker extenuation , ” he says . “ They ’ll be capable to do it safely , and do it the appropriate fashion that ’s legal . ”

Reflective mylar tape hung on patio to repel woodpeckers from damaging house.

Photo: amazon.com

Our Best Advice for Beginner Gardeners

We ’ll aid you jell up your first garden — whether that ’s a few pots on your terrace , a raised bed , or an in - ground patch out back — and pick out the right plant life for your soil and region .

Red, white, and black woodpecker hangs on feeder with nuts.

Photo: istockphoto.com

Young couple (heads not seen) use trowels to dig into a small raised garden bed on Astroturf, surrounded by gardening accessories.