How to Get Rid of Woodpeckers

In this instructable I'm going to show you how to get rid of woodpeckers without harming them.

Four Points to Deter Woodpeckers:
# Woodpeckers should be denied any contact with the damage zones.
# Insect controls, particularly wood-boring pests, must be managed immediately.
# Installation of visual deterrents must be completed.
# Proper installation of suet feeders should be done. Many put up suet feeders away from their homes in an effort to divert the birds' attention and, sometimes, it's effective in encouraging the birds to feed away from your home.

Before you blow your top off and decide to storm out on your front door with a shotgun in hand, you must know that these creatures are protected by federal law. The woodpeckers are one of the species covered by the Migratory Bird Act of 1918.

The statute states that it's illegal to hunt, pursue, kill, capture or sell migratory birds. This law also grants protection against any harm done on migratory bird parts such as eggs, feathers and nests, which means getting rid of these creatures is not as simple as hitting them with a broomstick and bringing them to a taxidermist.

If caught violating the act, you may be fined as much as $500. This means it would be yours and Mother Nature's best interest to employ woodpecker control techniques that would only shoo away and not endanger the survival of the species.

Step 1: Damage Control

Applying damage control and repair is a must because your house is an important part of your life. Immediate correction measures to any damage caused by these birds would prevent the exacerbation of more damage by pests and even other birds.

Look at the trees killed by woodpeckers and insects; this should be enough to help you realize that ignoring them yields not-so-superficial damage.

Here are the materials you should buy to control any damage caused by these birds:

Step 2: Aluminum Flashing

This is a quick fix for multiple woodpecker holes found on wood siding. Just tack some aluminum flashing sheets on problem areas by using small aluminum nails. You can also paint the sheet to match the color of your house.

Step 3: Wood Putty

This would require more time, but is a permanent solution to woodpecker damage. Allow the putty to dry safely by setting up netting to prevent woodpeckers from disturbing the putty as it hardens. You can apply some match color techniques on the putty when it's dry.

Step 4: Sound Detterents

Sound deterrent systems mimic the distress calls of predatory birds, which that signal woodpeckers to stay away from your house. This type of machine is highly sensitive to motion and sounds off whenever it detects bird movement. However, these systems can be very expensive. Some are known to cost $100 or more.

Step 5: Polyurethane

This stuff is a chemical that you can paint outside your house to ward off wood-boring insects. In turn, woodpeckers are more likely to ignore your house because they will see it as a waste of time. A Disadvantage is this stuff is hard to find at local shops, at least where I live.