How do I get rid of a woodpecker?

August 23, 2005 12:09 PM

My house has been getting attacked by a fairly persistent woodpecker recently. The odd thing is that it appears to be pecking along the cable lines that run along the side of the house. Could the cable lines be giving off a hum that sounds like a food source is underneath?

My house has been getting attacked by a fairly persistent woodpecker recently. We've got painted wood shingles, and the damn thing has pecked out some pretty deep holes (one through to the wall insulation), and others more surface.

I know that they often go after food sources, so I'll be investigating that with the Orkin Man. However, the odd thing is that it appears to be pecking along the cable lines that run along the side of the house. (Maybe the cables are giving off a hum that sounds like bugs are underneath?)

Has anyone ever experienced this, and do you have any suggestions about how to deal with it? (I've googled and found the usual "hang strips of foil" types of suggestions.) Who would I call to look at getting rid of the woodpecker?

We're up on the North Shore of Massachusetts, if it matters.

Thanks in advance...

posted by dbelson to home & garden (7 comments total)

Woodpecker males establish territory by hammering their bills against loud, resonating surfaces. So that might be what's happening - the bird just likes the sound of the cable lines. Not sure about how to solve your problem though.
posted by driveler at 12:18 PM on August 23, 2005

We had a woodpecker that liked the aluminum siding on our house for the same reason. Eventually he left. I have no idea why.

Just a suggestion, try hanging a metal pie pan from the wire so that it can swing and catch sun light. I know this works for birds in your garden, maybe here too?
posted by Pollomacho at 12:41 PM on August 23, 2005

This site has a number of suggestions, including visual, audible and chemical options.

If the thing is actually pecking on the cables, could you just wrap some soft foam around them?
posted by Skot at 1:06 PM on August 23, 2005

Woodpeckers can be very persistant. I would definitely have
your house inspected for insects. I wonder if yours is pecking around the cables because there is already an existing hole through the wood siding? Birds hate aluminum
so a pie pan sounds like a good idea. Aluminum foil won't
last outside and the pecker probably can figure out how
to get past it.

I had woodpeckers for a while but they simply
disappeared before I had to try to get rid of them.
posted by bat at 2:59 PM on August 23, 2005

More suggestions here.
posted by airgirl at 3:38 PM on August 23, 2005

We had a woodpecker who would peck only one part of the cedar siding. We placed a bit of flashing over the area and he left it alone.
posted by govtdrone at 5:37 PM on August 23, 2005

Maybe the cable just makes a good foot grip.
posted by Ken McE at 7:12 PM on August 23, 2005