How to Prevent Woodpecker Damage with Better Woodpecker Deterrence

Any wooden structure can be damaged by woodpeckers. The birds can damage wooden structures by chewing holes in siding, posts, and beams while they search for food. Your bedroom wall may be the ideal place for them to "drumming," which is a social behavior that is very annoying but does not cause any harm.

They are also hole nesters and can cause serious damage to your home if they decide it is better than a nearby tree. Woodpeckers are protected so bird solutions are needed to persuade them to move to another place without causing damage. Woodpeckers can also damage stucco and Dryvit. They can cause damage to electrical and plumbing lines and let moisture in the structure.

Even ornamental and shade trees can be damaged or injures by woodpeckers. Woodpecker behavior is best handled by native trees, while non-native trees in your landscaping might be more susceptible.

How can you keep woodpeckers away from your building and avoid woodpecker damage? These are nine strategies to keep woodpeckers away from your building.

1. Install netting

Fine mesh netting such as StealthNet is the best and most permanent way to repel woodpeckers. Although bird netting can be a good solution for large buildings and commercial properties, homeowners find it less attractive than other options.

It can be very effective to place nets only over the areas where woodpeckers are active. A good idea is to hang the nets from your eaves. The hooks can be left up all year, but the net should only be put up when there are woodpeckers.

2. Hang Aluminum Flashing

Shiny objects are not a favorite of woodpeckers. It will discourage them from returning to the same area by covering their holes with aluminum flashing immediately. While this won't stop them from drumming (some woodpeckers even love to use metal drumming, it can stop their foraging behavior). Installing a few shaving mirrors with the larger end pointed outwards is another thing that scares them.

3. Balloons with eyes?

A balloon with large eyes looks like an owl. Woodpeckers love owls so if this product is used, they will choose to go elsewhere. The balloon should be placed near the target area of the woodpecker. Note that owl effigies are not effective against woodpeckers, but they can be used to discourage smaller birds. You should move the owl effigies regularly if you do have one. Woodpeckers can see that a stationary owl might not be an owl. Mobiles with hawk-shaped wings that are hung from the eaves perform better.

4. Get optical gel

The optical gel is a general repellent for birds that can be used on multiple senses. It is unpleasant to birds, but pleasant to humans. It looks like smoke and seems sticky. It can be used to convince woodpeckers to leave by placing optical gel in areas that have been damaged. It also works for other species. It is an effective deterrent and will not harm birds.

5. Distress tapes

These tapes must be turned on and off manually. They are only useful in minor cases. These tapes are used to create distress calls for woodpeckers, which can be frightening and cause them to flee. Similar devices can also be used to detect woodpecker drilling or drumming and scare birds with either sound or moving objects.

Tapes of predator calls and other loud noises can be used. The birds may not be well-established, so noisemakers work best.

6. Take Their Food Source

Woodpeckers are looking for insects when they drill into buildings. Small commercial buildings can find themselves in even worse trouble. They will quickly give up if they can't find something. Make sure there are no gaps in your siding and that flat-grained boards do not separate. Also, make sure that the lap siding is securely nailed down. If pest control is necessary, use the appropriate techniques.

The woodpeckers will then move on to eat pests elsewhere. Tin is a good option if you are replacing a wood shake roof or shingle roof. Metal roofs are fireproof, protect against insects and safe from woodpeckers.

7. Offer a better nesting site

This might seem counterintuitive if you want to rid your home of woodpeckers. If woodpeckers start digging nesting or roosting holes inside your home, you may want to consider putting up nest boxes nearby. This is best when used in conjunction with other methods to discourage the foraging. If there are enough trees around to keep them happy, they will stop nesting inside your home and causing damage. Woodpeckers are territorial and will chase other timberpeckers that may cause problems.

8. Use water

Woodpeckers are not fond of being unexpectedly wet. A well-located sprinkler system or garden hose can work as a deterrent. The woodpecker will often not return to the area after one spray. It won't harm them, but it might make them reconsider returning.

9. Paint, not stain

Paint siding instead of staining if you have a problem with woodpeckers. You should choose lighter colors as woodpeckers are more inclined to avoid them. The small gaps that are home to insects can be reduced by painting. A study found that 79% of stained houses located in wooded areas had woodpecker damage. Only 29% of painted houses showed damage.

should not use noxious chemicals to deter woodpeckers. It won't work because woodpeckers can't taste or ingest the wood. They aren't eating the wood; they're eating the insects in it. When they are drumming, their only contact with the surface is their beak. Because they are protected against wood dust, they can't smell what you have put there. It has been proven to be a complete waste of money and has been tested.

Woodpecker problems can be prevented by using a deterrent. This will keep them from establishing themselves in your home. Woodpeckers should not be killed or hurt, especially if they are endangered. You must instead use non-lethal methods to deal with them. It's easy to persuade woodpeckers to move to another place. Get in touch with us to learn more.

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