Outdoor Animal Control - woodpeckers
Doityourself.com community forum was created to provide answers to all questions related to home improvement and home repair. Doityourself community can help you find information about how-to topics on small fixes to large remodeling projects. With comprehensive how-to content and expertly moderated community forums DoItYourself.com makes it easy to tackle even the most complex home improvement projects.View Full Version : woodpeckers
erniebanks
11-28-06, 04:35 AM
At the home of my mother-in-law woodpeckers have been seen
putting holes in the wood around the dormers. Killing the birds is not an option. How can I rid her of this problem?
putting holes in the wood around the dormers. Killing the birds is not an option. How can I rid her of this problem?
Concretemasonry
11-28-06, 06:55 AM
Stuffed crows and owls may help.
Dick
Dick
marksr
11-28-06, 07:20 AM
The wood peckers are looking for food. Is there any insect damage in the dormers? Sometimes woodpeckers will mistake styrofoam insulation [makes a noise when it expands/contracts] for insects.
chfite
11-28-06, 08:40 AM
They will persist in the behavior unless deterred. Cover all the holes made with sheets of metal or hardware cloth. This will help.
twelvepole
11-28-06, 09:42 AM
Look for decay and insect damage, particularly carpenter bees. Carpenter bees, which look very much like bumble bees, drill round holes in wood about the size of the end of your little finger.
Bees overwinter in abandoned tunnels. In spring they emerge and mate. They may return to existing tunnels which they may enlarge or excavate new ones where they deposit a pollen ball for larvae to feed on.
Bees are attracted to bare wood. Bees tend to be less attracted to painted surfaces. Homes with stains or sealers tend to be more subject to carpenter bees.
Holes will need to have insecticidal dust puffed into them. The insecticide gets distributed in the tunnels by the bees' hairy legs. Holes should be left open for a few days before plugging. After plugging holes, areas where bees tend to be attracted can be sprayed with residual insecticide every couple weeks to deter reinfestation. It is best to treat for bees at dusk when bees return to their nests.
Recommendations to deter woodpeckers with snakes, owls, streamers, etc. are frequently reported ineffective. Dropping netting over areas that attract woodpeckers will keep them off the outside of the house. While woodpeckers often drum on sides of homes to attract mates, drilling into wood siding is most often done in search of insects. Sometimes they drill to create nesting or roosting holes near wooded areas.
Woodpeckers are protected by the Federal Government. Killing woodpeckers is not an option.
Bees overwinter in abandoned tunnels. In spring they emerge and mate. They may return to existing tunnels which they may enlarge or excavate new ones where they deposit a pollen ball for larvae to feed on.
Bees are attracted to bare wood. Bees tend to be less attracted to painted surfaces. Homes with stains or sealers tend to be more subject to carpenter bees.
Holes will need to have insecticidal dust puffed into them. The insecticide gets distributed in the tunnels by the bees' hairy legs. Holes should be left open for a few days before plugging. After plugging holes, areas where bees tend to be attracted can be sprayed with residual insecticide every couple weeks to deter reinfestation. It is best to treat for bees at dusk when bees return to their nests.
Recommendations to deter woodpeckers with snakes, owls, streamers, etc. are frequently reported ineffective. Dropping netting over areas that attract woodpeckers will keep them off the outside of the house. While woodpeckers often drum on sides of homes to attract mates, drilling into wood siding is most often done in search of insects. Sometimes they drill to create nesting or roosting holes near wooded areas.
Woodpeckers are protected by the Federal Government. Killing woodpeckers is not an option.