How to Get Rid of Woodpeckers

Woodpeckers use their sharp beaks to poke holes in trees, then poke their long, thorny tongues into the holes to find insects, and to dig holes for nests or nocturnal places to sleep. Woodpeckers also often knock their beaks to claim territory and find mates. If a woodpecker sees your home as its territory, it can damage your home and annoy you by knocking. Read on to learn how to keep woodpeckers away from your home and possessions.

Table of Contents

Change the food source of woodpeckers

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Check your home for insects. If woodpeckers are constantly making holes in your house, there must be a reason for them to do so. Your home can be home to insects such as bees, ants or termites, and thus becomes an attractive destination for woodpeckers. Eliminating the food source your home is providing is the first step in keeping woodpeckers away. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Go to the attic or somewhere closest to where woodpeckers usually knock. Look for dead insects on window sills and in nooks and crannies. Look for honeycombs on the beams that support the roof. Look for rotten or broken wood locations inside and outside the home. This is a sign that the house has been attacked by insects.
If you see signs of an insect attack, seek immediate action. Use natural methods to get rid of insects or hire a pest control professional.

Hang beef fat supply baskets near the outside of the house. Woodpeckers love to eat solid fat that comes from cow kidneys, which you can buy at pet stores or wildlife stores. ^{[2] X Trusted Source The Cornell Lab of Ornithpogy Go to the source} Hang the fat basket away from the ground so other animals can’t reach it.

Hang the grease basket near the spot where woodpeckers often peck. They will eat the food in it and spare your house.
Slowly move the grease basket away from the house, moving a few inches each day until it is away from your house. Hopefully you can train your birds to eat lard and stop knocking their beaks on your house.
Beef fat will smell bad when the weather is hot and stick to the bird’s wings damaging its plumage. Don’t use beef fat on hot summer days.
Provide beef fat regularly during the fall, winter and spring when food sources are scarce.
Don’t use this method unless you’ve solved the insect problem – you’ll attract more woodpeckers to feed!

Plant fruit trees and berry trees. Woodpeckers love sweet fruit, so keep fruit and berry trees around the perimeter of your yard to attract them away from the house. ^{[3] X Research Source} The downside of this approach is that you must not plant fruit trees too close to your house.

Use a woodpecker repellent

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Do your research before investing in a woodpecker repellent. Scientific research shows that most of these products are ineffective. ^{[4] X Research Source} A simple and easy way to deter woodpeckers is to put a net around the house. Visible repellents are often ineffective as birds will quickly realize there is no real threat. They will be scared at first but will soon get used to the presence of these objects.

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Apply reflective tape near the woodpecker’s beak. One effective way is to apply reflective tape (such as Irri-Tape™, Bird Blinder™, Brite Way™ and etc.) near a bird’s nest: ^{[5] X Credentials Penn State Extension Go to source}

You can hang aluminum discs, old CDs, or shiny objects, but reflective tape is more effective. Cut pieces of tape about 1-1.2m long, stick one end and let the other end flutter in the wind. If the woodpecker is on the window slide, stick several pieces of tape a few inches apart. Remember that adhesive tape will deteriorate over time, and is only effective when the wind blows.
A more eye-catching solution is to hang a flag or ornament near the bird’s nest. Windmills or windmills that can spin quickly when the wind blows will scare birds.
Sound products have been tested, such as tape recordings of woodpecker panics or predators, and this method is completely ineffective, at least with red-crested woodpeckers. ^{[6] X Research Sources}
Hang lots of wind chimes around the house. The sound of wind chimes can frighten woodpeckers.
If woodpeckers are trying to build a nest in your house, hang an artificial nest where they knock (or very close by) for them to use. Remember to put a lot of shavings in the nest in February and March to let them dig instinctively. Hairy, Lewis and red-bellied woodpeckers are the only woodpecker families that know how to use artificial nests.

Strengthening the house

Repair holes in your home to avoid attracting woodpeckers. When a woodpecker makes a hole in your house, many more will be attracted to it. Insects can crawl through the hole and attack the house, making the problem worse.

Use putty to fill the holes as soon as they are discovered.
Apply ppyurethane paint or oil-based paint to the putty after it dries to prevent insects from living in your home. Less insects means less woodpeckers.

Protect the house to avoid further damage. Use a thick cloth, plastic net or bird net to cover the damaged area. It will prevent woodpeckers from causing further damage to the area.

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Call your local support office. The Migratory Birds Act protects woodpeckers (although most of them are non-migratory), but you can have a professional set up traps and release them in a safer place.

Advice

Combine all the above methods for best results.

Warning

Do not use adhesives or chemicals that have a bad smell. They are not effective and when they get caught in feathers, bird droppings and other things, they are very difficult to clean.
Do not shoot, trap or harm woodpeckers. Don’t destroy their nest. Federal law protects this bird.

Things you need

Aluminum disc, cellophane or reflective tape
Windmill or windmill
Wind chimes
Baskets provide beef fat and beef fat
Artificial nest for woodpeckers
Thick fabric, plastic net or anti-bird net

Steps