So, you’ve heard the familiar rapid, echoing pecking of a woodpecker outside your home. You may have thought it was pretty cool to have a woodpecker living nearby the first couple of times you heard it. But, these tiny birds are capable of a lot of damage to your house and other wooden outdoor structures. 

As a manufacturer of outdoor wooden structures, we know it would be a shame if a woodpecker caused irreversible damage to those beloved backyard objects. A wooden windmill doesn’t turn quite right with holes in its blades, and a lighthouse doesn’t stand quite as tall and proud with holes littering the frame. So, how do we stop these adorable yet destructive birds from damaging our wood?

First, it is essential to understand why woodpeckers peck. There are a few reasons why woodpeckers may drill holes in wood, including establishing territory, finding insects to eat, finding a mate, and more. Since many of the insects woodpeckers include in their diets hide under wood on trees, woodpeckers will often use their sharp, durable beaks to create holes in wood to look for their next meal, making your wooden structures a target for hungry beaks.

Woodpeckers are very persistent and need plenty of distraction away from wooden objects. There are a few ways that homeowners can prevent woodpecker damage on their outdoor structures, and they happen to be pretty inexpensive!

Create a physical barrier- This one is probably a no-brainer. Homeowners can add steel mesh and wire around the perimeter of a structure to block it from prying beaks completely. While this would take away from the overall aesthetic of your yard, this is a great, temporary solution for homeowners. 

Shiny distractions- Woodpeckers are easily distracted by shiny objects and prefer flying to check out shiny objects than flying to peck some wood. The addition of pinwheels, chimes, reflective stones, reflective tape, and aluminum strips easily distract woodpeckers from timber.