This piece will cover different strategies on how to stop woodpeckers from pecking houses and damaging your home.
In addition, we will talk about why woodpeckers break into houses in the first place and the possible meanings behind the noises they make while pecking.
You are undoubtedly familiar with the sound that woodpeckers make, which sounds like a rapid series of pecks, but you might be shocked to learn that woodpeckers do more than just hammer away at the trunks of trees.
What is the Reason Behind Woodpeckers Pecking on Houses?
It’s one thing to have to tolerate the cacophony of woodpeckers tapping away at the trees in your backyard. But why do woodpeckers start drilling holes in houses in the first place?
The short answer is that woodpeckers have evolved in such a way that they naturally peck on things. It’s just part of their routine.
Woodpeckers may find houses with wood siding excellent areas to find food or make nest holes because so many houses have wood siding.
They may or may not be aware that the structure they are pecking on is not a tree, but even if they were, they would not restrict themselves to only pecking on trees; they would peck anything made of wood.
Your friendly local woodpeckers may start pecking on your siding, doors, roofs, shutters, or any other wood components of the house–whatever happens, to fit their demands on a given day. They may also peck on any other wood components of the house.
Woodpeckers may be pecking on your house for various reasons, but it is unlikely that you will ever know why they chose your home in particular.
It’s possible that you have a large population of edible bugs living in your siding or that they’ve staked a claim to part of their territory that includes your home.
Ways on How to Stop Woodpeckers From Pecking Houses
There are several methods on how to stop woodpeckers from pecking houses. So, let’s figure out how to get rid of woodpeckers gently and effectively.
1. Set Up a Net to Catch Woodpeckers
Bird netting is yet another method that one can utilize to prevent woodpeckers from roosting. When it comes to covering vast regions, this is the most satisfactory solution. In a perfect world, the net would be suspended at least 3 inches above the ground it was covering.
Because the netting is unstable and floppy, it is not an appropriate surface for perching, making it an effective strategy for warding off woodpeckers.
Be sure to get bird netting explicitly designed for buildings and structures instead of bird netting designed for safeguarding crops and fish.
To reduce the amount of upkeep required, use products resistant to decay, water, and ultraviolet light. When you go to the store, it would be beneficial to have some images of your house with you.
The salesperson may have some recommendations for installing it correctly and some ideas for making it appear more aesthetically acceptable.
Surprisingly, the type of netting that is supposed to defend against bats works the best as a deterrent for woodpeckers.
There are several species of woodpeckers, and some of them can grow to be enormous and hefty. The force of their weight and movement has the potential to rip apart traditional bird netting.
Bird spikes of these materials require more upkeep than their metal or plastic counterparts. It is essential to inspect the netting for holes and tears.
It is important to clear away any leaves and other rubbish periodically.
2. Take Down Any Roosting Spots
Places in which birds can roost become familiar and comfortable to them. This includes eaves, fences, roofs, and other plane surfaces located relatively high up.
This familiarity may entice them to visit the establishment more regularly.
Woodpeckers are more likely to construct holes and nests in your home or other property structures if they can find places to rest.
Eliminating potential places for woodpeckers to roost is a straightforward approach that has proven to be a highly effective method on how to stop woodpeckers from pecking houses.
Woodpeckers tend to congregate in specific places on your property; you should consider installing bird spikes in such locations.
Depending on the material, these instruments have protruding needles made of metal or plastic.
These deter birds from landing and making themselves at home in the area. If you want bird spikes that are long-lasting, reliable, and discreet on your property, the Bird-Flite Wide Spikes Kit is a fantastic option to consider.
This method of warding off woodpeckers is simple to set up and does not call for much in the way of upkeep.
They operate as efficient physical barriers, preventing woodpeckers from roosting and nesting in your home.
Bird spikes should be positioned in a row for optimal effectiveness when covering ledges, window sills, parapets, and other long horizontal surfaces.
However, many birds are savvy enough to avoid spikes and find perches in locations where they have not been installed. Their owners may find them to be an eyesore.
3. Use Reflections to Terrify the Woodpeckers
Installing things that reflect light is another strategy on how to stop woodpeckers from pecking houses or deter woodpeckers from your property.
Birds will avoid these flashy, bright items as much as possible since they scare them.
Consider how you would react if you were suddenly confronted with dazzling bursts of light if you were trying to figure out how to deter woodpeckers from using reflections.
Because birds, like people, rely on their sense of sight, particularly brilliant and bright objects stand out to them and can be startling.
Hanging reflective surfaces from a string and allowing them to flow freely in the breeze is the most effective method for producing this effect.
Because of the chaotic movement, the sunlight can easily turn into quick light flashes. It doesn’t matter what you use—old CDs, aluminum foil, or even small mirrors.
Position them in a smart manner next to the places that have woodpecker holes.
Reflective tape is one of the most effective deterrents for woodpeckers. This produces bright bursts of light and results in a rustling sound as the wind blows through the area.
The combination of visual and acoustic stimulation works like a one-two punch to drive woodpeckers away from the area.
Reflective pinwheels are another product that you may find in garden and home improvement centers. These come equipped with stakes that you can hammer into the ground.
You can plant flowers in your garden, put them in pots, and place them on your balconies or windows.
If done correctly, this strategy on how to stop woodpeckers from pecking houses will definitely work out just fine.
4. Make Use of Colorful Mylar Balloons.
We won’t blame you if you’re wondering why balloons are among the strategies on how to stop woodpeckers from pecking houses, Don’t worry.
We will explain this in detail below. When you take into account the behavior of birds, however, it becomes clear why this tactic is so successful.
Mylar balloons effectively ward off woodpeckers for the same reasons that make them a fun addition to party decorations. These reasons include the following:
Mylar is a nylon derivative and is well-known for its strength and longevity. This substance serves as the foundation of the product.
Depending on the characteristics of the environment, it can remain inflated for many days up to several weeks when used as a woodpecker deterrent.
An outer layer of foil covers the mylar material, and that foil has a glossy surface that readily reflects light.
Woodpecker deterrent balloons carry images and colors that birds connect with hazards as if the reflective surface were not enough to drive away woodpeckers.
Because it comes with two big eye stickers designed to look like those of the woodpecker’s natural predators, the De-Bird Balloon Bird Repellent Balloon is an incredibly effective woodpecker repellent.
This is because the natural predators of woodpeckers have eyes that are similar in size and shape.
To put this device to work, you will first need to inflate the balloon, then attach the stickers, and last, hang the balloons close to the areas of your property that woodpeckers frequent.
5. Find the Cracks in Your Home and Patch Them Up
It is crucial to fill in any holes that woodpeckers might use to construct their nests since this will prevent them from laying eggs in the wood.
Doing this has proven effective on how to stop woodpeckers from pecking houses.
These birds can determine that the wood is weak and easily damaged because it already has holes and crevices, making it an ideal location for them to nest.
Some may bore directly into these holes to enlarge them sufficiently so they can house their young.
Filling holes will deter woodpeckers from making a home inside your walls by cutting out a cavity. Wood putty, foam, and screens are all typical choices in this situation.
The best way to apply Pur Black Foam is first to load the foam into a foam gun and then squeeze the trigger while pointing the gun at the space that needs filling.
As it dries, it becomes solid, leaving behind a completely opaque filler that does not even permit water or gas to flow through it; what more could it allow, a woodpecker?
Sanding the surface and painting it in a color that complements the style of your house are both options.
It is as easy as cutting off a piece, slightly crumpling it, inserting it into the gap, and adjusting it until it fits perfectly.
It works best for holes with a diameter of little more than two inches. Copper mesh requires very little maintenance because of its resistance to rust and stains and its corrosion resistance.
6. Take Away the Source of the Food
The presence of food within the walls of the house is one of the critical reasons woodpeckers would concentrate their attention on the structure.
These birds have a varied diet, but insects make up a significant portion of what they eat. Infestations of insects such as ants, termites, and bees frequently cause a woodpecker to tap on a home.
To determine whether insects are the cause of your woodpecker issue, there are a few things you should perform, including the following:
Investigate how the holes appear. When these birds search for food, the holes they drill are often not very large, but they are typically rather deep and arranged in horizontal or vertical rows.
Conduct a thorough search of the surrounding regions for any indications of an infestation.
It could be dead insects from the bird’s hunting frenzy, ant nests, beehives, or timber that termites have chewed.
All of these things are possible. If you witness living insects crawling on the walls, the same applies to that.
Suppose there is evidence that an insect infestation is present. In that case, the most effective strategy how to stop woodpeckers from pecking houses will be to remove the insects that serve as their primary food supply.
Make use of insecticides that are particular to the insect you are trying to kill but only have a small impact on other living things.
Suppose you want to keep your family and your pets safe from unintentionally breathing, eating, or touching the chemicals.
In that case, you should follow the safety precautions on the label. You may want the assistance of expert exterminators for very severe infestations.
7. Make Use of a Fake Woodpecker Feeder
Woodpeckers can be discouraged from pecking at your home by providing them with nice snacks in a woodpecker feeder. This will encourage the woodpeckers to go elsewhere.
These birds prefer to nest and forage near their food source, so this is a smart solution to consider if your woodpecker pecking problem results from foraging and nesting activity.
You can encourage them to nest further away from your house by providing them with an improved food source further away from your home.
Suet is used in the most efficient decoy woodpecker feeders available. Suet cakes are baked goods created by combining rendered animal fat with seeds, vegetables, fruits, and even insects.
These are then molded into blocks and placed in apparatus known as suet feeders. Branches are the typical hangout spot for them. Birds will perch on the grills and pick at the food within.
Suet feeders entice woodpeckers because they enable the birds to eat in a manner similar to their natural behavior. Invest in a metal suet feeder that comes equipped with a tail prop. Metal is strong and expected to last very long.
A tail prop provides woodpeckers with increased steadiness and comfort while feeding.
Buying suet cakes is an effective way on how to stop woodpeckers from pecking houses, but before you do, make sure to read the label to see if the product is suitable for these birds.
If you choose to prepare your own, be sure to include some of their favorite foods, such as peanuts, mealworms, and black oil sunflower seeds.
8. Use a Woodpecker Sound Deterrent
As with most birds, woodpeckers take flight in response to sounds. By taking advantage of the fact that birds have evolved to identify unexpected sounds with their natural enemies, you will be able to scare away woodpeckers without causing any harm to the birds.
A “woodpecker sound deterrent” is a mouthful of a phrase, yet all it takes to use it effectively is clapping your hands or turning up the volume on your speakers.
This may be the most cost-effective option for you, but doing so will need effort and consistency.
If you want your neighbors to understand why your anti-woodpecker noise barrage causes such a commotion, it could be a good idea to inform them about the situation.
You can purchase a wide selection of electronic woodpecker deterrents on the market. This provides a more convenient alternative.
They employ a variety of tactics to terrify the woodpeckers and drive them away.
Bird distress signals and predator sounds are broadcast by the BirdXPeller Pro, leading the target species, in this case, woodpeckers, to believe that the region is unsafe.
The sounds are recordings of natural environments made in advance, so most residents won’t find them annoying.
Other sound-based woodpecker deterrents use high-frequency sounds that can be heard by birds but not by people.
These are very unpleasant to woodpeckers, which causes them to avoid the area where they are.
This method is one of the most effective and easiest ways on how to stop woodpeckers from pecking houses.
9. Set Up a Dummy Woodpecker Predator
One can easily drive woodpeckers away from your property if you give them the impression that there are dangerous animals in the area.
What does a woodpecker eat, and how can you train one to keep watch over your house?
It is challenging to educate foxes, coyotes, or large birds of prey to rid your home of woodpeckers, which is unfortunate.
However, some items on the market have the appearance and behavior of natural enemies of woodpeckers.
You may purchase these decoys at home improvement centers, gardening stores, or on the internet.
The Barrier Rotating Owl Bird Deterrent is an image of an owl made of plastic that is realistically scaled to life and can be installed on any flat surface. It is like a wind vane that moves in response to the wind.
It is an excellent idea to position something that looks like a moving owl that is alive next to the damaged areas of your property in order to discourage woodpeckers from returning to inflict additional damage.
On the market today, you may also get additional woodpecker deterrents that mirror the behavior of other predators.
Some employ the utilization of solar power to create lifelike movements to frighten birds away.
Some people substitute images of coyotes for those of owls. In order to get rid of woodpeckers using decoy predators, you will need to relocate them every two to three days to keep up the illusion.
10. Plant Fruit Trees and Berry Bushes at Strategic Locations
Another method on how to stop woodpeckers from pecking houses is planting fruit and berries in locations.
Woodpeckers might be discouraged from pounding away at your home by employing certain woodpecker deterrent gardening techniques.
The location is the primary factor to take into account. Pick a location for your garden that is a respectable distance from your house.
It’s best to steer clear of planting fruiting trees and bushes too close to the walls of your home.
Keeping them outside your property will entice birds to congregate there, reducing the risk of damage to your home.
Next, give some serious consideration to the kinds of fruits and berries that you intend to cultivate.
Because woodpeckers are so possessive of their territories, it won’t be easy to coax them into moving.
Woodpeckers will feel more attracted to an area for the year if it contains trees and shrubs that give fruit at varying times throughout the year.
Planting things that are edible to people is a great strategy to employ. When you do this, you kill not one, not two, but three birds with one stone:
- You fulfill the sweet tooth of the woodpecker.
- You attract insects which is also their food source.
- You produce food for your table that is fresh and healthy.
Flowers that produce seeds, plants that produce nuts, and trees that have to sap are very effective methods for preventing woodpeckers from causing damage to homes.
These birds would choose to peck at these rather than the walls in your home.
11. The Trees Should Be Wrapped
We’ve gone through several strategies on how to stop woodpeckers from pecking houses; is there any difference between that and figuring out how to prevent woodpeckers from causing damage to your trees?
Woodpeckers have always relied on trees as their primary food source and a place to nest. The answer to the question, “Will a woodpecker harm my tree?” is “not directly,” if that is what you are wondering.
It is unusual for woodpecker damage to a tree to be severe enough to cause the tree’s death; nonetheless, the holes that woodpeckers bore allow fungi, bacteria, and parasites to enter the tree, which weakens the trunk.
Wrapping trees in material that prevents birds from perching is the method that is utilized most frequently for tree protection.
One of your choices is the NuVue Synlap Synthetic Burlap Roll. This item has a burlap appearance, making it easier to fit in with the natural atmosphere of your garden.
However, rather than being made of hemp fibers like traditional burlap, this one is constructed of a synthetic substance with a far longer lifespan.
Not only does it prevent woodpeckers from clinging to the stem and pecking the wood, but it also safeguards against insects, high winds, winter burn, and other severe climatic conditions.
It is essential to keep in mind that woodpeckers prefer decaying and broken wood as their preferred habitat.
If you notice a large number of them congregating around trees on your property, you should get those trees tested for diseases.
12. Cut Down Any Trees That Are Close to the House
Cutting down nearby trees is an ideal method how to stop woodpeckers from pecking houses. The presence of trees close to home provides woodpeckers with protection from the heat of the sun and concealment from any dangers.
Suddenly, the concept of roosting, nesting, and boring holes into that tree and the surrounding area’s structures seems like a much more appealing option.
If you want to get rid of woodpeckers around your house, you might want to think about chopping down large trees that are growing right up against your walls, or at the very least; you might want to think about thinning the branches of those trees.
These birds will have a sense of vulnerability as a result of the absence of tree cover, which will encourage them to look for safer locations.
Suppose you are concerned that cutting down trees and removing branches may diminish the aesthetic appeal of your property and discourage other species of birds and pollinators from visiting. In that case, you might want to think about incorporating low-growing plants into your garden.
You can discourage woodpecker activity around your home by planting ornamental shrubs and flowers in the area around it.
This will also give your home a more organic and natural appearance.
Remember to grow tall trees that attract woodpeckers around your property rather than placing them close to your home.
You won’t have to put up with the annoying sound of woodpeckers when you look out your window since you’ll be able to hear the leaves rustling instead.
13. Add Movement to Dissuade Woodpeckers
The solutions developed to deal with the issue of woodpeckers are not always aesthetically pleasing.
Bird spikes, bird netting, and life-size representations of woodpecker predators might detract from a residence’s aesthetic value, according to specific individuals’ opinions.
Finding decorative items that move or make noise can be a helpful remedy for how to stop woodpeckers from pecking houses.
Take advantage of the fact that rapid movements that are difficult to predict and loud sounds that come out of nowhere are two of the most effective deterrents for woodpeckers.
Woodpeckers can be scared away using straightforward, easy-to-install deterrents such as flags, streamers, and windsocks.
You might want to investigate the selection of wind chimes, wind vanes, and other garden ornaments that generate movement in your yard at the home improvement store closest to you.
There is a possibility that artists working on online platforms have stunning pieces that can serve dual purposes as outdoor decor and woodpecker deterrents.
Or, if you want to take things a step further, you may construct your own woodpecker deterrent and yard art by utilizing reflective tape, aluminum foil, and other shiny and loud materials.
Always remember that the most important element is the strategic location of the implement you choose or build.
Put them close to the areas of your home that have been pecked at by woodpeckers or the spots where you most frequently observe them roosting.
14. Put Up a Home for the Woodpeckers
The installation of a woodpecker home may appear contradictory when the objective is to get rid of woodpeckers, but this is one of the most successful ways to stop woodpeckers from pecking houses.
Even though you might not want these birds as house visitors, they are nonetheless beneficial to have around the neighborhood.
They are lovely to look at and consume insects that could harm your plants. Additionally, they can notify you of the existence of damaged wood.
The ideal homes for woodpeckers are designed to look very much like the natural nests of the species.
Wood is the ideal material to utilize because it is long-lasting and provides sound insulation.
Woodpeckers do not appreciate bright colors or those that do not look natural. Thus, it is best to leave them unpainted.
The entrance should be sufficiently sizeable to accommodate woodpeckers (note that different species may have different sizes).
The length of the home must exceed its width to accommodate a substantial nesting area.
It is recommended to mount a woodpecker house on the trunk of a tree to simulate the environment in which they would normally live.
If at all feasible, position it close to a tree with holes drilled into it by woodpeckers.
Be careful to place your woodpecker house at a sufficient distance from the ground and any possible footholds in order to deter potential predators.
When you place a suet feeder, fruiting trees, and flowers that bear seeds in the vicinity of your home, you will have excellent woodpecker real estate.
These birds will want to leave your home to move to the new location.
15. Call an Expert
The most effective way to stop woodpeckers from pecking houses is to use a combination of the methods we’ve described, so keep that in mind.
When it comes to controlling woodpeckers and preventing them from occurring in the first place, the total is larger than the sum of its parts.
However, there are situations where the utilization of a variety of woodpecker deterrence strategies is ineffective.
Elements that are outside of your control may make these birds find your house appealing to visit.
It is also important to note that these birds can become very possessive of their territory.
If they have been living there for years, you will need more than balloons and netting to remove woodpeckers from your home.
It is time to bring in the professionals if you have tried various approaches for at least a month without seeing any change or if the damage to your home is driving up the bills and creating a health risk to your family.
Choose a qualified pest control business with a demonstrated history of successfully handling issues related to woodpeckers.
The investment will be profitable if carried out in this manner. Check to see that the company you want to hire abides by all environmental rules.
If they provide methods to hurt, capture, or kill woodpeckers without first obtaining the necessary permit, this should raise a red flag.
Although it is not against the law to use woodpecker deterrent spray, doing so is discouraged due to the potential for the spray to have detrimental effects on the birds and the environment.
Woodpecker sprays containing sticky compounds can leave a residue on the bird’s feathers, which can harm them.
