How to get rid of woodpeckers is something that many people do not think about. They seem fairly nondestructive, and not something that a homeowner has to worry about. However, woodpeckers can do long term damage to trees and wood objects. The can breach the surface of wood, which can allow other pests (like termites or other insects) an easy way to infest a piece of wood. At the very least, the tapping sound that woodpeckers make can be quite annoying.
Getting rid of woodpeckers can pose a challenge, since they are a federally protected bird. This means that people must either choose a non-lethal way of getting rid of woodpeckers, or they have to get a permit. One way of getting rid of woodpeckers is to make the wood unattractive to them. This can be done by applying a sticky coating to the wood. This can be done safely and in a non-toxic manner, but it can often be messy. It also can cause the woodpeckers trouble in flying, if the sticky substance gets on their wings. Another way to get rid of woodpeckers is to make an area look inhospitable. Strips of metal are visually unappealing to woodpeckers, and they will stay away from an area where they can see reflections of light of metal. Homeowners can also use the woodpecker’s natural fear of a more aggressive bird, they owl. Putting up a few plastic owls can deter woodpeckers (as well as several other kinds of pests).
If woodpeckers have already caused wood damage, the holes that they have made should be plugged with putty or another substance. This can cause woodpeckers to abandoned their existing nests and homes, and find a new area to nest in. Care should be done to plug holes after the nesting season, so new woodpecker fledglings are not harmed in the process.
Once woodpeckers are deterred from nesting in an area, the wood and trees in the area are much safer. Not only are they not bothered by woodpeckers, but it is harder for insects to infest them. If a person find the proper way of how to get rid of woodpeckers, it can be quite advantageous for them.