How to Get Rid of a Woodpecker: Five Practical Ways
Woodpeckers can be annoying guests that damage your property by drilling holes through wooden structures, looking for food or making nests. While it’s not illegal to harm most types of woodpeckers, many species are protected by law, so you’ll need to find humane solutions to prevent them from harming your home. In this article, we’ll go over five practical and effective ways to get rid of a woodpecker without harming them.
Create a “Diversionary Feeding Station”
One way to lure a woodpecker away from your home is by providing a “diversionary feeding station.” This is an alternate source of food that will keep the woodpecker busy and far from your home. You can set up a birdfeeder with food that woodpeckers love, such as suet and nuts; we recommend using a feeder that’s specifically designed for woodpeckers. This type of birdfeeder typically has a long, narrow tube that allows the bird to cling to it while feeding, and a roof to protect the food from rain and snow.
Make sure to place the feeder in a location away from your home and other structures such as fences or trees to minimize the chance of the woodpecker being attracted to your property. This should be far enough to keep the activity away, but not too far that it will be unnoticed by the woodpecker. Clean the feeder regularly and keep it filled with fresh food to keep the woodpecker coming back.
Use Visual Deterrents
Visual deterrents can discourage woodpeckers from pecking or roosting on your property. Two effective deterrents are reflective tape or discs. You can attach strips of reflective tape or cut up old CDs and hang them where the woodpecker usually pecks or roosts. The light reflection and angle changes can disorient the birds and make them feel uncomfortable about landing or staying on your property.
When you install reflective items, make sure they are tightly secured, so weather or wind doesn’t dislocate them. A good idea is to move them around every few weeks to prevent the woodpecker from getting used to them or see them as actual decorations.
Install Physical Barriers
Barriers made of bird netting or chicken wire can be an effective way to prevent woodpeckers from accessing areas where they cause damage. Install it on the gable ends of the roof, the sides of the home or deck overhangs.
First, measure the area you want to cover and obtain the most adequate netting or wire type for the job. Make sure you have all tools at hand (shears and stapler with galvanized staples) and remove components where necessary to place the netting properly.
The downsides of this method are that it may not prevent all cases of woodpecker damage, and it may not be aesthetically pleasing. It can be an eyesore and may make it harder to access areas where actual repairs or inspection of home systems like flashing may need to happen in the future.
Use Woodpecker Repellent Sprays or Liquids
Woodpecker repellent sprays and liquids made of natural oils and smells do not harm or kill woodpeckers but can make things more difficult for them or discourage them from nesting or roosting in your home. You can strive to maintain a scent or taste they dislike, such as peppermint, cedarwood, or clove oil. You apply the product to where they peck or roost or their favorite entry points into your home. These sprays or liquids are often available at hardware stores, garden centers, or online.
Keep in mind that these sprays may need to be reapplied regularly, and you may need to adjust the mixing ratio. Always read the label instructions carefully before applying and testing the product in a small area.
Try Using a Decoy Owl or Hawk
A decoy owl or hawk can mimic natural predators and make woodpeckers feel uneasy to stay on your property for too long. These decoys are available online or at garden stores and can be placed on a tree or structure near where woodpeckers commonly frequent.
To increase effectiveness, move the decoys around every few days to create the illusion of the predator actively hunting and make it less predictable for the woodpecker to anticipate where the decoy will be. Keep in mind that some woodpeckers may become familiar with the decoy, acknowledging it as an inactive object and still make contact with your home, so monitor results continuously.
Conclusion
Dealing with a persistent woodpecker can be challenging and frustrating, especially since harming them isn’t an option. Fortunately, there are several ways to stop these birds from damaging your property. You can try creating a diversionary feeding station, using visual deterrents, installing physical barriers, using woodpecker repellent sprays or liquids, or deploying a decoy owl or hawk. These methods are non-invasive and discourage woodpeckers from nesting or roosting your home.
Implementing one or more of these tips can help you peacefully coexist with these beautiful birds in comfort and convenience. Make sure to carefully execute the methods and monitor the outcomes to ensure that they are humanely helping your cause.
