The Ultimate Guide To Woodpecker Prevention And Control For San Diego County Homes

Bird control in San Diego, especially for woodpeckers, is a lot more important than you might think. Even if you’re starting from square one, this post can help get you up to speed. By the end, you’ll know exactly what to do when pest birds start pestering your house.  

Keep in mind you can’t deal with woodpeckers and other pest birds the same way as pest insects. Certain birds have governmental protections with specific ways to conduct control, which can result in a sense of helplessness when these birds descend on your home. Bird control specialists, like our team at HomeShield Pest Control, know all the rules and stand ready to help.

There’s light at the end of the tunnel. It’s possible to get woodpeckers to stay away for good. Here’s how.

The Anatomy And Behavior Of Woodpeckers

First, let's take a moment to review basic woodpecker anatomy and behavior. Many woodpeckers are actually quite small, with the rare exception of the pileated woodpecker (just picture that famous cartoon woodpecker, and you’ll know what this species looks like). 

Woodpeckers can have different head shapes and body shapes, but they share the ability to cling to the side of a tree trunk or tree branch. And, of course, woodpeckers all share sharp, pointed beaks that they can tap in rapid successions.  

Pest birds like woodpeckers can have frustrating behavioral habits, but understanding these habits is a significant first step for effective woodpecker control. So why do woodpeckers peck wood? 

In addition to pecking wood to hunt for their food (usually insects), woodpeckers also use their beaks to create nests for themselves and mark their territory to fend off competitors. Though these behaviors are acceptable in the wild, they don’t fly in residential areas.  

Woodpeckers Can Be More Damaging Than You May Think

One of the key reasons that bird control service is so important for area homeowners is that different types of birds, woodpeckers especially, can cause serious damage. 

For example, if your home happens to have wood siding, woodpeckers could mistake this for a tree, meaning they may want to peck their way through it to look for food or to try to build a nest. Of course, they won’t be successful, but now your siding has holes that could let other pests get inside. Also, if there are vital elements hidden behind your siding, such as electrical lines, these could be damaged by woodpecker interference.

Woodpeckers can also cause cosmetic damage to many kinds of wood objects and decorations around your house and yard. All of this damage far outweighs the potential benefits of woodpeckers taking out a small number of insects in the immediate area. 

Simple Tips To Make Your Property Less Appealing To Woodpeckers

Prevention is a huge part of residential bird control for woodpeckers. By making your property less appealing to woodpeckers, they will be far less likely to visit. Here are some key tips to keep in mind: 

• Remove dead or rotting trees and wood from your property.

• Provide birdhouses or nest boxes to deter woodpecker damage. 

• Use mylar, old CDs, or other reflective materials to scare off woodpeckers. 

• Install plastic mesh or equivalent around sensitive trees and siding.   

Of course, if there are already woodpeckers on your property and they seem committed to causing problems, then it’s time to call in some help. 

Contact Us For Effective Woodpecker Management Solutions Today

Woodpecker removal is a delicate job, and DIY removal efforts just aren’t going to get the job done; this is why we recommend seeking professional woodpecker removal rather than going it alone. 

In particular, professionals use advanced bird control methods to achieve a safe and effective solution to the problem. Meanwhile, you can relax knowing the problem will be over soon. 

If you’re searching for bird control near you for woodpeckers or other pest birds, contact HomeShield Pest Control right away.