U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Woodpeckers - Inflicting Damage on Property
Acorn Woodpecker grainery Tupper Blake/USFWS
Other methods include:
. Frightening devices (models of owls and hawks, spinners, Female Hairy Woodpecker at the opening windsocks, etc) can be used, of a nest. Donna Dewhurst/USFWS although these devices have inconsistent success. Why are they drumming on my property? . Tactile deterrents are sometimes Woodpeckers, sapsuckers, and Red-bellied Woodpecker used with marginal success. Laura Perlick/USFWS However, some products can get flickers drum on a variety of surfaces. Siding (aluminum and wooden), trim on feathers and impair the bird’s boards, and wood boards on any kind Gila woodpecker (Melanerpes ability to fly and stay warm. of structure can be appealing to uropygialis) and Gilded northern . Sound deterrents coupled with woodpeckers. The resulting holes flicker (Colaptes auratus chrysoides) motion detection are another can appear as simple dents (usually are California-listed endangered option. Typically this would in a line) or as large as 2 inches in species and cannot be harassed or involve playing the recording of a diameter. Woodpeckers drum in their harmed in any way. Harassment woodpecker distress call followed search for food, territorial and social of other woodpeckers, as with most by a raptor call. displays, and to nest. Sapsuckers drill migratory birds, is legal if the activity . If you are trying to stop damage small holes for sap, while many other does not result in the take of a bird, by sapsuckers to certain woodpeckers drill for woodboring nest or egg. ornamental trees, you can tie a insects such as carpenter bees, burlap bag or other heavy leafcutter bees, grass bagworms, etc. How do I keep woodpeckers from material around the tree. Drumming for territory or social damaging my property? Application for a depredation permit reasons will most likely occur in the The best way to stop woodpecker for some species of woodpeckers early spring at the start of the damage to personal property is to should be considered as a last resort. breeding season. Drilling for nest begin damage control as soon as Proper exclusion, harassment, and cavities usually occurs in the early you begin hearing drumming and monitoring will be necessary to spring, although some drilling occurs continuing until well after the demonstrate that need. Permits will in the fall. woodpecker leaves the area. Holes be issued only if non-lethal methods the bird has made should be filled have previously been tried and failed. Legal Status and painted immediately. If a nest is The applicant must show strong All woodpeckers are protected already active, control measures will justification (i.e., where significant under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act need to wait for the young to leave structural damage has resulted in an (MBTA). This law says: “No person the nest permanently, which is usually economic hardship). may take (kill), harass, possess, around midsummer, but can vary import, export, transport, sell, depending on the species. For further information about purchase, barter, or offer for sale, any woodpeckers, please contact: migratory bird, or the parts, nests, Physical exclusion is probably U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or eggs of such bird except as may be the most effective control method. Pacific Southwest Region permitted under the terms of a valid Installing bird-type netting from Division of Migratory Birds and permit…” Control methods that do the outer eaves down the side of the Habitat not harm the bird or an active nest building is typically effective at 916/414 6183 are allowed for most species. excluding most woodpeckers. or email: [email protected]