Woodpeckers

Homeowner, rental or HOA

Prevent problems

Key strategies

• Prevent woodpecker damage to homes or cabins with wooden exterior by minimizing insects burrowing into the wood using proper sealant and possibly a treatment to kill insects already inside the wood. Woodpeckers will readily peck at wooden structures to find insects.
• Remove rotting trees that are standing close to your home. Rotting trees may attract woodpeckers looking for insects inside the trees and for building nesting cavities.

Around home

• Inspect your home and other structures for loose boards, holes, or insect-infested wood that may attract woodpeckers. Repair or seal with durable materials to prevent woodpeckers from destructive pecking.
• Use visual deterrents such as reflective tape, hanging aluminum foil strips, or a wind or motion-activated owl or hawk decoy. However, individual deterrents may only be effective for a short time and other methods may need to be used.
• Maintaining an elevated suet feeder can provide an alternative food source for woodpeckers, but needs to be maintained at least 100 yards from homes to discourage woodpecker damage to your house. Feeders need to be positioned so they are not accessible to other wildlife, especially if you live in an area with bears.

Pets and livestock

• Woodpeckers do not pose a direct threat to pets or livestock. However, keep pets from disturbing nesting woodpeckers, as they are protected migratory birds.

Solve a problem

Non-lethal methods

• Woodpeckers drum on surfaces for communication, territory marking, or accessing insects for food. Noise deterrents (banging pots, clapping, or a loud radio) may discourage them temporarily.
• Repair and seal any existing insect damage in siding or trim. Woodpeckers often drum or peck where insects are present. Eliminating insect infestations in siding and trim is the most effective long-term solution.
• Cover areas of repeated woodpecker damage with metal flashing, hardware cloth, or heavy netting placed a few inches off the surface. Install lightweight netting over affected areas to physically exclude woodpeckers.
• If you find an injured woodpecker or fledgling that you believe it’s mother is dead, you can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before removing it from the wild. Only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may possess abandoned or injured wildlife.
• Michigan DNR does not authorize or conduct live capture and release of woodpeckers other than for permitted research.

Lethal methods

• Woodpeckers are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Lethal removal is not allowed unless authorized under a valid federal depredation permit from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
• If woodpecker damage is significant, contact USDA Wildlife Services (866-487-3297) for guidance on permit requirements.

Local government

Prevent problems

Key strategies

• Prevent woodpecker damage to municipal buildings and other structures with wooden exterior, by minimizing insects burrowing into the wood using proper sealant and possibly a treatment to kill insects already inside the wood. Woodpeckers will readily peck at wooden structures to find insects.
• Remove rotting trees that are standing close to buildings. Rotting trees may attract woodpeckers looking for insects inside the trees and for building nesting cavities.

Your community

• Encourage residents to inspect homes, sheds, and other structures for loose boards, holes, or insect-infested wood that may attract woodpeckers.
• Educate residents about using visual deterrents such as reflective tape, hanging aluminum foil strips, or a wind or motion-activated owl or hawk decoy. However, individual deterrents may only be effective for a short time and other methods may need to be used.
• Inform residents that maintaining an elevated suet feeder can provide an alternative food source for woodpeckers, but to keep them at least 100 yards from homes to discourage woodpecker damage to their house. Feeders need to be positioned so they are not accessible to other wildlife, especially if your area has bears.

Public spaces

• Inspect municipal buildings and other structures for loose boards, holes, or insect-infested wood that may attract woodpeckers. Repair or seal with durable materials to prevent woodpeckers from destructive pecking.
• Remove rotting trees that are standing close to buildings that may be prone to woodpecker damage. Rotting trees may attract woodpeckers looking for insects inside the trees and for building nesting cavities.

Pets and livestock

• Woodpeckers pose no threat to pets or livestock.
• Encourage residents to prevent pets from disturbing nesting woodpeckers. Intentional disturbance of woodpecker nests is illegal under state law and the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Solve a problem

Non-lethal methods

• Woodpeckers drum on surfaces for communication, territory marking, or accessing insects for food. Noise deterrents (banging pots, clapping, or a loud radio) may discourage them temporarily.
• Repair and seal ay existing insect damage in siding or trim. Woodpeckers often drum or peck where insects are present. Eliminating insect infestations in siding and trim is the most effective long-term solution.
• Cover areas of repeated woodpecker damage with metal flashing, hardware cloth, or heavy netting placed a few inches off the surface. Install lightweight netting over affected areas to physically exclude woodpeckers.
• Visual deterrents such as reflective tape, hanging aluminum foil strips, or a wind or motion-activated owl or hawk decoy may deter woodpeckers causing damage. However, individual deterrents may only be effective for a short time and other methods may need to be used.
• If someone finds an injured woodpecker or fledgling that they believe it’s mother is dead, they can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before removing it from the wild. Only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may possess abandoned or injured wildlife.
• Michigan DNR does not authorize or conduct live capture and release of woodpeckers other than for permitted research.

Lethal methods

• Woodpeckers are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Lethal removal is not allowed unless authorized under a valid federal depredation permit from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
• If woodpecker damage is significant, contact USDA Wildlife Services (866-487-3297) for guidance on permit requirements.

Business or school

Prevent problems

Key strategies

• Prevent woodpecker damage to buildings and other structures with wooden exterior, by minimizing insects burrowing into the wood using proper sealant and possibly a treatment to kill insects already inside the wood. Woodpeckers will readily peck at wooden structures to find insects.
• Remove rotting trees that are standing close to buildings. Rotting trees may attract woodpeckers looking for insects inside the trees and for building nesting cavities.

Grounds

• Inspect buildings, playground equipment, and other structures for loose boards, holes, or insect-infested wood that may attract woodpeckers. Repair or seal with durable materials to prevent woodpeckers from destructive pecking.
• Remove rotting trees that are standing close to buildings that may be prone to woodpecker damage. Rotting trees may attract woodpeckers looking for insects inside the trees and for building nesting cavities.
• Use visual deterrents such as reflective tape, hanging aluminum foil strips, or a wind or motion-activated owl or hawk decoy. However, individual deterrents may only be effective for a short time and other methods may need to be used.
• Maintaining an elevated suet feeder can provide an alternative food source for woodpeckers, but to keep them at least 100 yards from buildings to discourage woodpecker damage to their house. Feeders need to be positioned so they are not accessible to other wildlife, especially if your area has bears.

Pets and livestock

• Woodpeckers pose no threat to pets or livestock.
• Encourage staff and visitors to prevent pets from disturbing nesting woodpeckers. Intentional disturbance of woodpecker nests is illegal under state law and the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Solve a problem

Non-lethal methods

• Woodpeckers drum on surfaces for communication, territory marking, or accessing insects for food. Noise deterrents (banging pots, clapping, or a loud radio) may discourage them temporarily.
• Repair and seal any existing insect damage in siding or trim. Woodpeckers often drum or peck where insects are present. Eliminating insect infestations in siding and trim is the most effective long-term solution.
• Cover areas of repeated woodpecker damage with metal flashing, hardware cloth, or heavy netting placed a few inches off the surface. Install lightweight netting over affected areas to physically exclude woodpeckers.
• Visual deterrents such as reflective tape, hanging aluminum foil strips, or a wind or motion-activated owl or hawk decoy may deter woodpeckers causing damage. However, individual deterrents may only be effective for a short time and other methods may need to be used.
• If someone finds an injured woodpecker or fledgling that they believe it’s mother is dead, they can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before removing it from the wild. Only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may possess abandoned or injured wildlife.
• Michigan DNR does not authorize or conduct live capture and release of woodpeckers other than for permitted research.

Lethal methods

• Woodpeckers are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Lethal removal is not allowed unless authorized under a valid federal depredation permit from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
• If woodpecker damage is significant, contact USDA Wildlife Services (866-487-3297) for guidance on permit requirements.

Agriculture

Prevent problems

Key strategies

• Prevent woodpecker damage to barns, sheds, and other structures with wooden exterior by minimizing insects burrowing into the wood using proper sealant and possibly a treatment to kill insects already inside the wood. Woodpeckers will readily peck at wooden structures to find insects.
• Remove rotting trees that are standing close to your barn or other structures. Rotting trees may attract woodpeckers looking for insects inside the trees and for building nesting cavities.

Your farm or orchard

• Inspect outbuildings, orchard posts, and similar wooden structures for loose boards, holes, or insect-infested wood that may attract woodpeckers. Repair or seal with durable materials to prevent woodpeckers from destructive pecking.
• Remove rotting trees that are standing close to buildings that may be prone to woodpecker damage. Rotting trees may attract woodpeckers looking for insects inside the trees and for building nesting cavities.
• Maintain healthy orchard trees; woodpeckers may feed on insects within damaged or dying trees.
• Woodpeckers rarely target stored feed but may be drawn to feed storage structures because of the insects inside them. Attempt to prevent woodpecker access to structures and insect infestations where possible.
• Use visual deterrents such as reflective tape, hanging aluminum foil strips, or a wind or motion-activated owl or hawk decoy. However, individual deterrents may only be effective for a short time and other methods may need to be used.
• Maintaining an elevated suet feeder can provide an alternative food source for woodpeckers, but to keep them at least 100 yards from buildings to discourage woodpecker damage to their house. Feeders need to be positioned so they are not accessible to other wildlife, especially if your area has bears.

Pets and livestock

• Woodpeckers pose no threat to pets or livestock.
• Prevent pets from disturbing nesting woodpeckers. Intentional disturbance of woodpecker nests is illegal under state law and the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Solve a problemNon-lethal methods

• Woodpeckers drum on surfaces for communication, territory marking, or accessing insects for food. Noise deterrents (banging pots, clapping, or a loud radio) may discourage them temporarily.
• Repair and seal any existing insect damage in siding or trim. Woodpeckers often drum or peck where insects are present. Eliminating insect infestations in siding and trim is the most effective long-term solution.
• Cover areas of repeated woodpecker damage with metal flashing, hardware cloth, or heavy netting placed a few inches off the surface. Install lightweight netting over affected areas to physically exclude woodpeckers.
• Visual deterrents such as reflective tape, hanging aluminum foil strips, or a wind or motion-activated owl or hawk decoy may deter woodpeckers causing damage. However, individual deterrents may only be effective for a short time and other methods may need to be used.
• If you find an injured woodpecker or fledgling that you believe it’s mother is dead, you can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before removing it from the wild. Only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may possess abandoned or injured wildlife.
• Michigan DNR does not authorize or conduct live capture and release of woodpeckers other than for permitted research.

Lethal methods

• Woodpeckers are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Lethal removal is not allowed unless authorized under a valid federal depredation permit from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
• If woodpecker damage is significant, contact USDA Wildlife Services (866-487-3297) for guidance on permit requirements.

Airport

Prevent problems

Key strategies

• Prevent woodpecker damage to buildings and other structures with wooden exterior by minimizing insects burrowing into the wood using proper sealant and possibly a treatment to kill insects already inside the wood. Woodpeckers will readily peck at wooden structures to find insects.
• Remove rotting trees that are standing close to buildings. Rotting trees may attract woodpeckers looking for insects inside the trees and for building nesting cavities.

Around buildings

• Inspect buildings and other structures for loose boards, holes, or insect-infested wood that may attract woodpeckers. Repair or seal with durable materials to prevent woodpeckers from destructive pecking.
• Use visual deterrents such as reflective tape, hanging aluminum foil strips, or a wind or motion-activated owl or hawk decoy. However, individual deterrents may only be effective for a short time and other methods may need to be used.
• Woodpeckers may become habituated to structures for drumming; use visual or auditory deterrents to discourage repeated activity.

Airfields

• Maintain short vegetation to reduce insects congregating around buildings and runways, which may decrease woodpecker attraction.

Solve a problem

Non-lethal methods

• Repair and seal any existing insect damage in siding or trim. Woodpeckers often drum or peck where insects are present. Eliminating insect infestations in siding and trim is the most effective long-term solution.
• Cover areas of repeated woodpecker damage with metal flashing, hardware cloth, or heavy netting placed a few inches off the surface. Install lightweight netting over affected areas to physically exclude woodpeckers.
• Woodpeckers drum on surfaces for communication, territory marking, or accessing insects for food. Noise deterrents (banging pots, clapping, or a loud radio) may discourage them temporarily.
• Visual deterrents such as reflective tape, hanging aluminum foil strips, or a wind or motion-activated owl or hawk decoy may deter woodpeckers causing damage. However, individual deterrents may only be effective for a short time and other methods may need to be used.
• If you find an injured woodpecker or fledgling that you believe it’s mother is dead, you can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before removing it from the wild. Only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may possess abandoned or injured wildlife.
• Michigan DNR does not authorize or conduct live capture and release of woodpeckers other than for permitted research.

Lethal methods

• Woodpeckers are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Lethal removal is not allowed unless authorized under a valid federal depredation permit from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
• If woodpecker damage is significant, contact USDA Wildlife Services (866-487-3297) for guidance on permit requirements.