Home » How to Protect Your Home From Woodpecker Damage and Problems
How to Protect Your Home From Woodpecker Damage and Problems
Posted: Wednesday, August 24, 2005
by Monique Thorsell
WoodpeckerProblems.com – Woodpecker Deterrents
roblems.com/images/woodpecker_h.gif" width=125 align=right border=0>Woodpecker problems are becoming more common as we move further into the suburbs. Even though woodpeckers can be a major nuisance, woodpecker control methods must be humane as these birds are protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
The most effective woodpecker control product is to use ¾" bird netting to completely deny access to the woodpeckers target area. This netting is nearly invisible when installed, but it’s not always a practical solution in every situation.
Some humane woodpecker deterrents that can be effective are audio, visual and taste repellents— especially when combined together and applied when the woodpecker problem first arises. Examples of these products would be to combine a taste repellent like woodpecker hole filler, with some visual products like a few bird scare eye balloons and a bird scare octopus or flash tape.
There are now some effective woodpecker taste repellant products on the market and the following group has proven especially effective over the last ten years.
The woodpecker hole filler is an environmentally safe, non-toxic, resin-repair system that is specifically designed to repair damage caused by woodpeckers to wood structures while providing a natural woodpecker deterrent to protect against future drilling. When the woodpecker drills into the hole it is met with a nasty taste and odor, making it undesirable to peck there again. It is best to use the woodpecker hole filler where woodpeckers have drilled to prevent further damage, following up with the woodpecker repellent taste aversion spray over the entire problem area to deter future drilling. Also available is a protective woodpecker paint additive for long-lasting extra protection.
As with any non-permanent bird deterrent, you can increase the effectiveness of a bird taste repellant product by combining it with bird visual deterrents such as scare eye balloons, octopus, bird scare spider or mylar flash tape. These woodpecker scare deterrents give the woodpecker a feeling of being threatened by predators, and when this is combined with an unpleasant tasting drilling site, the problem woodpecker is much less likely to stay in the area. Ready-made woodpecker control kits that include both woodpecker taste repellents and bird scare products are available online to cover whatever size area you need to protect in the right ratio of products to area size.
Another humane bird scare option is a high-tech audio woodpecker deterrent like the Bird Xpeller Pro that can be effective in extreme cases against certain species of woodpeckers. These audio bird control units are programmed with many woodpecker species’ specific distress calls, plus predator attack cries and loud noises like gunshots to startle and frighten the birds. When used with the visual bird control devices above, these sounds give the woodpecker a feeling of being surrounded by predators, and it convinces them to find more desirable surroundings.
Remember, if you are not using a physical deterrent like bird net to protect your structure from woodpeckers, you should combine bird scare products together using at least one taste woodpecker repellent with at least one visual or audio woodpecker repellant.
Follow these simple guidelines and you’ll have that woodpecker winging away in no time!
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Top-level comments on this article: (6 total)
» left by Claudia
from Blacksburg 5 years 14 days ago.
Yes, but I can't seem to find the repellant hole filler.
» left by Rose from Wisconsin USA 1 year 339 days ago.
Ordered from Birdbusters the grape liquid repellent, halographic owl and decals. None of them worked even though we followed as instructed. Called the DNR agent who indicated that the grape liquid repellent would not work since woodpeckers to not eat the repellent but just drill. The woodpecker would sit on the cedar trim and drill into the stucco siding. We used 6 inch white aluminum flashing just above the cedar angled so the woodpecker could not get a foot hold. It has worked. When we replace the stucco we will use a cement board stucco that is resistant to woodpecker drilling. Don't waste your money on liquid spray repellants and halographic owls. Birdbusters don't guarantee and you can't get your money back and they don't work! Try aluminum flashing and cement board!
» left by Anonymous 4 years 96 days ago.
I have a halloween scary sounds box will that repel woodpeckers, I also have a very loud air horn and a couple of alarms will those repel woodpeckers
» left by Beth from Jamison, Pa. 3 years 85 days ago.
How will the audio visual deterrants effect the song birds that we set feed out for?
» left by Anonymous 1 year 163 days ago.
You may want to readjust your priorities. Preventing your house from being chiseled away at should trump bird watching
» left by Anonymous 3 years 9 days ago.
Bird deterrents, visual, sound, barrier and more, where I bought all of my bird control products from BirdBGone at 800-392-6915. They are bird control experts. The repellants work, they're low cost and construction-grade.
» left by Anonymous 2 years 114 days ago.
Secure a rat trap directly under the hole. Works like a charm. CheaperThanDirt sells no. 12 birdshot in 12ga. that is fine like sand. When frightened out of their holes they are easy targets and can be shot on the wing or when they land in nearby trees. The no. 12 shot does not carry very far and can be used in close quarters. I have been also told that a pellet gun works well when pumped up to a very low setting so as not to further damage the house. The problem with that is sometimes the bird falls back into the hole.
» left by Anonymous
2 years 107 days ago.
BB guns are good deterrents. A pellet to the head prevents future damage, and cost is minimal. I estimate it was under a nickel, if you can do it with one shot.
The trick is to already be nearby when the bird starts to peck; otherwise it will be alerted to your presence and fly away, as they have wings. To remain undetected, I covered myself with bear feces and lay as still as possible for hours as a time. I called in sick to work and used up all my vacation time until I finally nailed it, but at least my house doesn't have any more annoying holes that my in-laws can denigrate me for.
As a plus, my wife sorta got used to the odor of the bear feces, so as it turns out, I don't need to bathe as often.
» left by Anonymous 2 years 103 days ago.
Is human feces an acceptable alternative when pecker-hunting? I live in a bear-free area and was told not to come back to the local zoo after trying to harvest some from a pen. Also, my mom won't let me have a BB gun but I have been able to create a blow gun using common household materials. So far I've haven't seen a wood-pecker but the UPS guy seemed to smell me before I could blow, causing me to miss his neck as he fled. Is this why I need bear scat?
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