Outdoor Animal Control - Know how to get rid of woodpeckers?

I bought this house last year and spent $2,600 getting rid of squirrels and woodpeckers. The woodpeckers are back this year and are happily attacking my house. I heard of a company in Fla, Advanced Solutions Technology, that supplies a paint additive that leaves a nasty taste in their mouths, deterring them from their task. Does anyone know if this works or is there a better rememdy?

O.k, you asked for it. A pellet gun. Pop a few of them and they'll stay away. I had crows that hung around my house, sometimes nearly a hundred of them. Making all kinds of racket, it was awful. I tried everything to get rid of them - a cat, a cap gun, firecrackers, an owl statue, none of it worked until I started swatting them. Now they stay 2+ houses away from mine. It usually lasts about 5 months or so and then they start hanging around again and the pellet gun comes out of the closet. It may sound cruel, but I paid good money for this house and I'm not going to be held hostage by a bunch of dang birds!

Good luck whatever you decide.

Woodpeckers are attracted to wooded areas, orchards, and gardens. They particularly like to peck on trees, especially dead trees, branches, and bark where there are insects. If you life in such an area, the woodpeckers go with the territory. I have read that the expensive repellents are a waste of money. I did read that they are repelled by the reflective quality of the shiny mylar party streamers from the party store. Cut and hang 12" streamers from eye hooks. Once you scare them away, you can take down the streamers (your neighbors will be happy!) but not the eye hooks. You may find the woodpeckers will return and you will need to use them again. Good luck.

I've tried it all. The only effective means for ridding yourself of woodpeckers is to shoot them or trap them. They are not afraid of shiny objects or plastic toys and I have two cats and two dogs. They've dented my metal furnace pipe so it's apparent they don't stop at wood. Two suggestions, call the game and fish and have them trap them "pain in the toosh", or purchase a non lethal spring propelled rubber projectile pellet gun. That was a bit specific but you don't want to use a standard air rifle you might end up killing them and in some areas that's illegal not to mention cruel. It's not their fault they were born wanting to vandalize your home :wall: .


P.S. You might have to set up a shooting range to actually learn how to hit anything with the pellet gun. GOODLUCK! :)

Woodpeckers are often attracted to wood structures because they are after insects, such as carpenter bees inside wood or others that hide in gaps in wood. They can do extensive damage. Most birds except for those like starlings, pigeons, and sparrows tend to be protected in most areas. No firearm, pellet gun, B B gun or slingshot may be used in most areas.

Hammering on houses, gutters, downspouts, flashing, etc. is usually indicative of territorial or mating behavior. Begin control measures at the sound of the first tap. Inspect for insects and treat with residual insecticide. Carpenter bees require puffing of insecticide powder into holes where it can enter tunnels. Insect holes and bird holes, if nest is not evident, in siding should be plugged and painted. If nesting is evident cover holes after the young leave the nest in summer. Netting can be hung beneath eaves to keep birds away. Suet feeders in yard may attract birds away from structure during fall, winter, and spring. Keeping outside of structure sprayed with residual insecticide will keep insects at bay. Seal all gaps where insects can hide.

I have had woodpeckers destroying my home, as have all of you I am sure, or we wouldn't all be here. I have thought very seriously about a pellet gun, but unfortunately, it's illegal to kill them and the consequences aren't worth the satisfaction one may get from doing so (I know I would).

Anyway, I thought long and hard about this, and came up with this solution. After doing so, NO MORE WOODPECKERS!

This is so simple, I am suprised I (and others) didn't think of it before.

Go to your local grocery store and buy a few Habenero peppers. Open one up and take 1 seed out and test it for yourself. Your mouth should be on fire. If not, the peppers were not ripe enough. Once you find a firey hot seed, the rest of the seeds in that pepper are perfect... the hotter, the better.

Hopefully, you can reach the damaged area. Take the seeds from the peppers and smash them in and around the area and rub it in good! You can also use the rest of the pepper to rub all around the area.

Once the little pest pecks the hole and gets any of the pepper seed juice on his feet and beak, your problems are OVER. He won't be back!

Caution: Make sure you wash your hands repeatedly after handling the pepper seeds. The seeds (and smashed pepper) will leave an oil residue on your fingers and will last ALL DAY. If you accidentally rub your eye, even hours later, you will burn your eye. Again, make sure to repeatedly wash your hands to get rid of any "pepper oil" that may be on your fingers.