Woodpeckers are an interesting breed of bird that have earned themselves a bad reputation in urban neighborhoods. Although highly beneficial parts of our surrounding ecosystem, woodpeckers are a real nuisance for home and business owners. Not only are they noisy, they also leave behind unsightly structural damage to homes, sheds, buildings, and even trees. If you are experiencing a woodpecker problem, it is time to learn how to manage it safely and effectively. Continue reading to learn more about woodpeckers, and how to get rid of them on your property.
Woodpeckers
There are three main reasons why woodpeckers peck: foraging for food, marking their territory, and chiseling for shelter. All three of these initiatives are carried out with a different type of pecking manner, the most damaging of which is excavating for shelter. Woodpeckers can cause an extreme amount of damage to siding and wood structures on residential and commercial properties with these pecking behaviors. They leave behind large, hollow pecking holes that are distinctive to woodpecker damage.
Fortunately, there are safe and simple ways to get rid of woodpeckers without harming or killing them. In fact, it is important to know that woodpeckers are protected by state and federal laws. It is illegal and highly immoral to trap, harm, shoot, or kill woodpeckers without the proper licenses. The only authorized personnel permitted to deal with woodpecker control is wildlife rescue contractors.
Getting Rid of Woodpeckers
You have a few options, in terms of deterrents, when it comes to getting rid of woodpeckers. You can choose to use tactile deterrents, visual deterrents, or sound deterrents to thwart woodpecker activity on your property. All three of these methods are non-lethal to birds and other animals, and relatively inexpensive to purchase.
Tactile Deterrents – There are products available on the market that are designed to adhere to woodpeckers’ down feather or fluff, preventing them from being able to fly or stay warm. These sticky repellents are not a good option since they put woodpeckers in danger and cause them to suffer. It is only recommended to use these products for extreme cases of woodpecker infestation. Examples of brands available include Bird Stop, Roost-No-More, and Tanglefoot Pest Control.
Visual Deterrents – Also a much safer approach, visual deterrents tend to work very well. Things like aluminum foil or reflective tape strips are frightening to woodpeckers. Hanging strips of aluminum foil, or using products like Irri-Tape, can thwart woodpecker presence overnight. Hang them long enough to blow in the breeze for best results. Also consider hanging windsocks, handheld windmills, and even plastic owls.
Sound Deterrents – Using sound machines that mimic common woodpecker predators, like hawks, can work well. The BirdXPeller Pro sound machine uses a woodpecker distress call followed by a Sharp-shinned Hawk call to scare woodpeckers away. Using sound deterrents works very well, especially when coupled with visual deterrents as well.
Woodpecker Removal and Control
Call Wildlife Removal Indianapolis at 317-247-2290 for safe and humane woodpecker removal and control. We are DNR licensed wildlife rescue contractors that provide a wide range of animal control services for both residential and commercial properties. We offer wildlife removal, animal damage repair, animal cleanup services, and much more. Call 317-257-2290 for prompt and professional woodpecker removal services in Indianapolis, IN today.