Concerned about woodpeckers damaging your wood siding? Whether you already have a history of dealing with these pecking pests or want to prevent even a single hole in your new siding, there are several ways to keep these birds at bay. In the following guide, learn more about why woodpeckers do what they do and how to keep them from ruining your home’s exterior.
Why Do Woodpeckers Peck?
Woodpeckers are beautiful birds, but when it comes to the noise they make, they can be less than desirable. On top of that, they can cause damage to your property, including to your wood siding. Woodpeckers can be found on every continent, and they feed on a combination of insects, nuts, and fruit. Their skulls are designed to allow them to peck approximately 12,000 times per day. So, an important question: why do woodpeckers peck on houses?
To Mark Their Territory
You’ll typically hear their trademark hammering during springtime when they are marking territory and trying to attract mates. Once they’ve found a mate (and start collecting food), woodpeckers typically stop pecking.
To Create a Roost
Another reason these birds peck is to create a roost cavity or nest. This is apparent when the hole is large in diameter and round in shape. The activity typically takes place during the breeding season, which is during the months of April and May.
In Search of Food
Home siding can also be home to insects, which act as a source of food for woodpeckers. Obviously, if you got insects in your siding – these include various types of bees and bagworms – there’s a greater chance that you’ll hear some heavy drumming noises if left unchecked.
For Food Storage
Finally, woodpeckers might be pecking on your house’s exterior to store food. For example, acorn woodpeckers (which are commonly found in the western part of the United States) can create a vast number of holes the size of… you guessed it… acorns. This includes holes on trees and the side of homes, which can lead to a big-time headache in more than one way.
Several Factors That Attract Woodpeckers
- Food source: in this specific situation, your siding could have an insect infestation
- Habitat: woodpeckers are drawn to trees and wooden structures
- Location and climate: they typically don’t migrate and tend to live in warmer climates
- House siding: the birds like wood siding (particularly unpainted, natural wood)
How to Keep Woodpeckers from Damaging Your Home
Don’t want to hear the intense drumming of a woodpecker? How do you keep woodpeckers from damaging your house? Follow these easy steps to keep them away!
1. Scent Repellent
What scent repels woodpeckers? If you’re looking for a non-toxic (and harmless) way to keep them off your property and wood siding, there are a couple of scents that work a charm.
First, we have garlic. Crush garlic and add it to a spray bottle filled with about two cups of olive oil. Then put it in the fridge for anywhere from a few days to a week. Once infused, spray on areas where they might peck. Second, there’s peppermint oil. Mix peppermint with carrier oil or water into a spray bottle and spray on vulnerable spots on your house.
2. Shiny Materials
This is an effective (both as a deterrent and in terms of cost) way to ward off woodpeckers. The key is to utilize extremely shiny items. There are a number of discs, tape, chimes, pinwheels, and balloons designed specifically for this situation. Along with being super shiny, these materials can also add a decorative touch to the exterior of your home. Have fun with it!
3. Make Noise
If you’re not too big on using shiny objects, an electronic repellent device might be right up your alley. Emitting a distress noise, this type of device is quite frightening to woodpeckers. You can also resort to the simple act of making noise with a raised voice and/or hand clapping. This is obviously a cost-free option, but of course, it might not be ideal after a while.
4. Install Decoys
The woodpecker’s natural predator is the owl, which scares them big time. Owl decoys can be purchased at your local home improvement or hardware store. You can also find them online. Tip: find one or a few with reflective eyes for even more increased deterrence.
5. Remove Food Sources
The pecking birds are often attracted by dead trees or wood containing their favorite food (aka insects). For more info on insect infestation, refer to the section below. It can be super beneficial to have dead limbs or trees removed from your property, particularly ones close to the house.
A preventative measure: don’t plant trees close to your home. While landscaping, you should keep this in mind. It might just save you a lot of headaches down the road.
6. Add Motion to Yard
Woodpeckers can be skittish about movement, so if you’re looking to keep them at bay, try installing a number of items that move in the wind. These include garden flags and windsocks. With a few smartly positioned items, this can improve your chances of a woodpecker-free zone.
7. Cover Siding
With the use of chicken wire or bird netting, you can keep woodpeckers from damaging your wood siding. This can be a super-effective solution, but keep in mind that you may have to keep it up semi-permanently.
8. Deal with Insect Infestation
If you find that a number of the above suggestions aren’t working, it might indicate a bigger issue: insect infestation. The usual suspects include carpenter ants, bees, and termites.
If this is the case, you have several options. First, you can use insecticide. Once you’ve taken care of the infestation, you can use caulking to fill holes. Be mindful of keeping your windows and doors closed, as well as children and others out of harm’s way when spraying.
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