Protect Your Home From Woodpeckers This Winter
Do you notice bird droppings, nests, or holes on your house's exterior? While many birds migrate for the winter, there are some that stay around to conserve energy, raise young, and defend their territories. Woodpeckers, like the red-bellied, downy, and pileated woodpecker, hang around during the winter months, and they can damage your home and be a health hazard if they infest nooks and crannies in your house. Read on to learn how woodpeckers can become pests and how to get rid of them.
Why Are Woodpeckers Pests?
Droppings from any bird can damage your siding and make your home unsightly. When droppings dry out, they can get inside your HVAC system and exacerbate asthma and other allergic reactions. Some birds can carry parasites, like ticks or fleas, which can carry potential health risks for your family members and pets. Woodpeckers, specifically, can be nuisance birds because they peck to investigate objects, find food, establish their territory, and attract mates. Woodpeckers can make numerous holes in different types of building materials, thus causing costly damages to your home. This action is also loud and could be annoying for both you and your family members.
How Can You Get Rid of Pesky Woodpeckers?
Some woodpeckers, like the ivory-billed woodpecker, are considered to be endangered, so there may be laws in place to protect these species. Even if a bird isn't endangered, there could be species in your area that are protected from harm by state laws. So instead of using inhumane methods, you will want to contact a pest control company and talk about deterrents and safe-capture methods. For instance, one deterrent you could invest in is a device that broadcasts a distress call that's used when predators are nearby. These types of devices can emit sounds that won't bother you but will intimidate birds from coming to your property.
You could also place a fake predatory bird, like an owl statue, on your roof or porch to scare woodpeckers away. If woodpeckers are nesting in eaves or other structures, try using bird spikes. Bird spikes make it impossible for birds to land and roost on your home's structures.
The last DIY deterrent is applying a pest control varnish to your siding where woodpeckers like to bore holes. You can get these types of varnishes from a pest control company or home improvement store. These specialty varnishes can be applied to many materials; they can also withstand beaks and won't hurt woodpeckers or other birds if ingested.
If deterrent methods aren't working, you should contact a pest control company for safe removal. Permits are usually required for the use of traps, so it's best to contact professionals so that you don't have to worry about getting a permit or trying to remove the woodpeckers yourself and accidentally hurting them. Contact a company such as Mid Pacific Pest Control for more information.