How To Get Rid Of Woodpeckers
Woodpeckers, the neighbor that mows his lawn at six in the morning on a Saturday of the bird world. The noise alone is bad enough, but they also can cause serious property damage.
Due to environmental laws that protect woodpeckers it can be hard to get rid of them if you don’t know the proper methods. In this article, we will discuss how to get rid of woodpeckers naturally and effectively so you can go back to living your life in peace.
How to Get Rid of Woodpeckers Naturally?
Woodpeckers are around your house for two reasons.
One, they’re nested nearby, and two, there’s an ample food source by your house.
By eliminating the food source, which usually includes ants, termites, and bees, you’re giving them no reason to stick around.
You can use pesticides that are specifically used to kill bugs, and have minimal effects on other larger living animals to eliminate a woodpeckers food source. Alternatively, If you don’t feel comfortable with your abilities, call a professional that can do it for you.
Another natural way to get rid of woodpeckers is using a sound deterrent.
For example, the BirdXPeller Pro emits sounds of birds in distress along with predatory sounds that will deter woodpeckers away from your house.
These natural sounds do a nice job of keeping woodpeckers away, but also don’t disturb any of your neighbors in the process.
To cover larger areas around your house we suggest using bird netting. The unstable and soft netting is not ideal for perching, making it a good method for repelling woodpeckers.
Make sure to buy bird netting that is specially made for houses and other buildings, and not the ones made for protecting crops and fish.
Choose rot-proof, water-proof, and UV-proof products to minimize maintenance. It would be a good idea to bring pictures of your home when you visit the store to ensure you buy the correct netting for your needs.
How to get rid of woodpeckers on a Chimney?
If gone unchecked, woodpeckers can cause serious property damage around your house.
In order to protect the top of your house – be sure to cover parts of your roof and chimney in reflective tape.
The reflection from the tape creates a burst of light that scares woodpeckers away. We recommend this for the roof because it will easily catch the light, and can provide a good defense to the upper part of your house.
How to Get Rid of Woodpeckers on Stucco
An extremely effective method to get rid of woodpeckers on stucco is with the use of a woodpecker deterrent paint such as Beakgaurd.
This particular paint produces a taste and odor that the woodpeckers find repulsive.
The manufacturer of Beakguard states that the product has a 70% success rate, and they currently offer this paint in 4 colors:
- Portobello
- Whetstone
- White
- Sandstone.
If you’re not looking to get a new paint job on your stucco, you can also try using plastic owls.
Owls are a natural predator of woodpeckers, and using plastic owls will scare away woodpeckers from any areas you don’t want them.
In order for this strategy to work you will need to periodically move your plastic owls every few days so the woodpeckers don’t catch on to the ruse.
Using Scents to Rid of Woodpeckers
Scents and essential oils can deter woodpeckers and other pests alike without the fear of harming the animals.
Many pests don’t like the smell of mint, especially peppermint.
Birds don’t have strong lungs and therefore don’t like strong scents such as peppermint oil.
In addition, peppermint oil is a natural insecticide that repels mosquitoes, flies, ants, beetles, and more.
Try dabbing concentrated peppermint oil where you see the woodpeckers pecking. This should repel the woodpeckers and any organisms they are seeking as well.
It’s no surprise the strong scent of garlic shoos away woodpeckers. If you don’t mind a little work and creativity, you can also try using this combination of grocery-store items to repel woodpeckers.
First, crush some garlic. Then, mix it with 2 cups of olive oil, store it in the refrigerator for 5 days, and then put the liquid into a spray bottle.
You can then spray your concoction on the problem-areas. You may have to continue the process for a few weeks to make it known that the garlic stench isn’t going away.
Other Home Remedies
Visual deterrents like reflective tapes or streamers can both be viable options that you can try at home.
Woodpeckers will be wary of the reflective tape, and the movement of the tape or streamers will spook the birds as well.
Producing sound is also another viable option to help deter woodpeckers from your home or property.
This one might sound silly, but you can take matters into your own hands by making loud, disruptive noises such as banging two pans together. This will make them think that your space isn’t welcoming or safe.
If You Would Like to Learn More
The Cornell Lab tested six common long-term deterrents to see how well each prevented woodpecker damage.
The results were published in 2007 in the Journal of Wildlife Management, and I’ve provided the link to that below.
Link to Journal of Wildlife Management study: https://bioone.org/journals/journal-of-wildlife-management/volume-71/issue-6/2006-491/Assessment-of-Management-Techniques-to-Reduce-Woodpecker-Damage-to-Homes/10.2193/2006-491.short
Written By Fitzwilliam Marty
Fitzwilliam is a highly experienced residential pest control expert and part-time writer with The Doorstep with over 15 years of industry experience. He is a certified professional who has helped countless homeowners get rid of unwanted pests from their homes. Fitz has a passion for safe and eco-friendly pest control methods that are not harmful to animals or the environment. His expertise includes handling common household pests such as ants, termites, rodents, bed bugs, and more.
