How to Get Rid of Woodpeckers: A Comprehensive Guide

Woodpeckers, with their striking plumage and distinctive drumming, can be a delightful sight in the wild. However, when they decide your home is their new favorite percussion instrument or foraging ground, they can quickly become a nuisance. The relentless tapping, often referred to as ‘drumming’, and the holes they create can cause significant damage to your siding, eaves, and even window frames. Understanding why woodpeckers are targeting your property is the first step in effectively deterring them. This comprehensive guide will provide you with the knowledge and actionable steps you need to reclaim your peace and protect your home.

Understanding Woodpecker Behavior: Why Are They Here?

Before diving into solutions, it’s crucial to understand the reasons behind woodpecker activity. They aren’t randomly pecking; there’s usually a specific motivation driving their actions. Here are some common reasons:

• Drumming (Communication): Male woodpeckers use drumming as a form of communication, primarily to attract mates and establish their territory. This often involves repeatedly striking resonant surfaces like siding, gutters, or even metal vents. The sound is meant to be loud and travel far.
• Foraging for Food: Woodpeckers are primarily insectivores. They often peck at wood in search of larvae, grubs, ants, and other insects living beneath the bark or within wooden structures. If your home has wood siding, soffits, or fascia boards, it can be an inviting buffet for them.
• Nesting: While most woodpeckers prefer dead or decaying trees for nesting, some may occasionally attempt to excavate nest cavities in the siding of buildings, especially if they find a soft or rotten area.
• Exploring & Curiosity: Sometimes, young and inexperienced woodpeckers will peck out of curiosity or to explore their surroundings. This behavior is usually temporary and might cease on its own.

Identifying the cause of the woodpecker problem will help you choose the most appropriate deterrent methods.

Effective Woodpecker Deterrent Strategies: Step-by-Step Guide

Now that you understand the motivations behind woodpecker behavior, let’s delve into practical and effective strategies to deter them from your home. These methods focus on creating an environment that is less appealing to woodpeckers and preventing them from accessing the areas they target.

1. Visual Deterrents: Scare Tactics

Woodpeckers are easily startled by sudden movements and flashing lights. Using visual deterrents can make your home appear less safe and inviting to them.

Step-by-Step Guide to Using Visual Deterrents:

1. Shiny, Reflective Objects: Hang shiny, reflective objects like aluminum foil strips, old CDs, or commercially available reflective tape near the areas where woodpeckers are active. The movement and flashing light will disorient them. Attach them with string or adhesive tape, ensuring they are securely fastened and won’t cause a hazard.
2. Fake Predator Decoys: Place plastic owls, hawks, or snakes near the affected areas. These predator decoys create the illusion of danger, often deterring woodpeckers. Rotate the decoy’s positions every few days to prevent the woodpeckers from getting used to them.
3. Mylar Balloons: Inflate Mylar balloons and attach them to strings near the affected areas. The movement and reflective surface will help in scaring off the woodpeckers.
4. Wind Chimes: The noise and movement of wind chimes can also be an effective deterrent. Choose wind chimes that are noisy and move frequently in the wind.

2. Sound Deterrents: Making it Unpleasant

Woodpeckers are sensitive to loud or unfamiliar sounds. Using sound deterrents can create an environment that they find annoying and undesirable.

Step-by-Step Guide to Using Sound Deterrents:

1. Ultrasonic Repellers: Consider purchasing an ultrasonic pest repeller designed to emit high-frequency sounds that are annoying to birds but often inaudible to humans. Place the device near the areas where woodpeckers are frequently active. Be aware that the effectiveness of these devices can vary.
2. Loud Noises: Try making loud noises by clapping hands or banging pots and pans when you see a woodpecker active on your home. This can be temporarily effective in scaring it away but will require persistence and is not a long-term solution.
3. Radio Static: Placing a portable radio tuned to static or a talk radio show with high talking volume in the affected area may create an unpleasant noise environment for the woodpeckers.

3. Physical Barriers: Denying Access

The most effective long-term solution involves physically blocking access to the areas woodpeckers are targeting. This can be accomplished through several methods.

Step-by-Step Guide to Using Physical Barriers:

1. Netting: Install bird netting over the areas woodpeckers are targeting. This is especially effective for protecting siding, eaves, and soffits. Ensure the netting is properly installed and at least a few inches away from the surface to prevent the woodpeckers from pecking through the net. Use durable, heavy-duty netting designed for bird control, and secure it properly to prevent sagging or becoming entangled.
2. Metal Sheeting: Cover vulnerable areas with sheet metal, flashing, or aluminum siding. Woodpeckers cannot peck through metal, which will deter them from targeting those areas. Metal can be attached with screws or nails.
3. Siding Replacement: If your wood siding is severely damaged or appears to be attracting woodpeckers due to insect infestation, consider replacing it with a less appealing material, such as fiber cement, vinyl, or metal siding. This will eliminate the food source and reduce the woodpeckers’ interest in your home.
4. Solid Backing Behind Siding: Check for any hollow areas behind your wood siding. Filling these hollow areas with solid insulation or material can make drumming less resonant and less attractive to woodpeckers.

4. Addressing the Root Cause: Insect Control

If woodpeckers are targeting your home in search of insects, you need to address the underlying insect problem. This is not only beneficial for deterring woodpeckers but also for the overall health and maintenance of your home.

Step-by-Step Guide to Insect Control:

1. Professional Pest Control: Hire a professional pest control company to identify and eliminate insect infestations. They will be able to use appropriate methods to effectively remove the insects without causing damage to your home or harming the environment.
2. Insecticides: If you choose to use insecticides yourself, be sure to use products labeled for wood-boring insects and carefully follow all safety instructions. Consider using natural insecticides to protect beneficial insects.
3. Eliminate Food Sources: Remove dead trees and stumps near your property, as they can harbor insect populations. Keep firewood properly stored away from your home, preferably in an enclosed structure.
4. Seal Entry Points: Seal cracks and crevices in your home’s exterior to prevent insects from entering. This will also help prevent other pests and drafts.

5. Making Your Property Less Attractive: Landscaping and Habitat Management

The landscaping around your home can play a significant role in attracting or deterring woodpeckers. Consider making your property less appealing to these birds through some adjustments.

Step-by-Step Guide to Landscaping and Habitat Management:

1. Remove Dead or Dying Trees: Dead or decaying trees attract insects and also serve as nesting sites for woodpeckers. Remove them from your property to make it less inviting.
2. Trim Tree Branches: Trim tree branches that are close to your house to reduce easy access for woodpeckers to your siding and roof.
3. Avoid Planting Trees that Attract Insects: Consider the type of trees and shrubs you plant. Some trees can attract more insects than others, which in turn attract woodpeckers.
4. Maintain a Tidy Yard: Keep your yard clean and free of debris. Remove fallen leaves and branches that could provide food and cover for insects.

6. Professional Assistance: When All Else Fails

If you’ve tried all of these methods without success, it may be time to seek professional help. A pest control or wildlife removal expert will have the knowledge and tools to assess the situation and implement the best course of action. Professionals can employ more targeted and specialized methods for deterring woodpeckers without harming the birds.

Step-by-Step Guide to Seeking Professional Help:

1. Research Local Companies: Look for reputable pest control or wildlife removal companies in your area that have experience with bird control, specifically woodpeckers. Check online reviews and ask for recommendations from friends or neighbors.
2. Request a Consultation: Schedule a consultation with a professional. They will inspect your property and provide a detailed assessment of the problem, along with recommendations for effective solutions.
3. Discuss the Proposed Plan: Before hiring a professional, discuss the proposed treatment plan, costs, and any guarantees. Ask about the methods they use to ensure they are humane and environmentally friendly.
4. Schedule a Follow-Up: If necessary, schedule a follow-up visit to ensure the problem has been effectively resolved and to make any necessary adjustments to the treatment plan.

Additional Tips for Dealing with Woodpeckers

• Be Patient: It may take time and several attempts before you can effectively deter woodpeckers. Consistency is crucial.
• Humane Methods: Focus on using humane methods that discourage woodpeckers without harming them. Remember that woodpeckers are a protected species in many areas.
• Preventative Measures: It’s often easier to prevent a woodpecker problem than to solve one that has already developed. Implement preventative measures even if you don’t currently have a woodpecker problem.
• Regular Inspections: Regularly inspect your home for signs of woodpecker activity or insect infestations. Early detection will make it easier to resolve the problem.
• Seasonal Adaptations: Woodpecker activity may fluctuate depending on the season. Be prepared to adjust your strategies as needed.

Conclusion

Dealing with woodpeckers can be frustrating, but with the right knowledge and approach, you can effectively protect your home from damage. By combining visual and sound deterrents with physical barriers, insect control, and habitat management, you can create an environment that is far less appealing to woodpeckers. Remember to be patient, persistent, and humane. If all else fails, seeking professional assistance is a viable option. Taking preventative measures will help you enjoy your home without the constant drumming of these often disruptive, yet fascinating birds.