It is a sunny day and you are sitting on your porch with your morning coffee. Suddenly, you hear the sound of woodpeckers pecking at your roof.
What do you do? If it’s not an emergency, have no fear!
A woodpecker is a bird that makes holes in trees to find insect larvae and other food.
They peck at the bark of trees by using their beaks, head-butting, drumming on trunks with rapidly vibrating feathers or tongues while upside down, which produces sound waves used to detect insects moving under the tree bark.
Woodpecker Damage
The damage caused by woodpeckers to the exterior and interior of your home depends on their species.
For example, a hairy woodpecker can create small holes in roofs or siding that are not very big; although they may be noticeable from below if it’s an exposed area such as under a gable vent or in an attic space.
Other species of woodpeckers can create much larger holes that require repair by a carpenter to prevent water damage and insect infestation.
Woodpecker Prevention
When you are dealing with Woodpecker on your Roof, the best thing to do is prevent them from entering your home or building their nests there in the first place.
You can try to alter the exterior of your home by removing any exposed wood, which may attract nesting birds.
On flat roofs where it is possible for them to establish a foothold on an edge or ridge vent, you should also install wire mesh along these areas that will prevent access without causing injury to the bird.
Woodpecker Removal
If your house already has woodpeckers on it, you should call a professional pest control company to remove them.
They will safely and humanely trap the birds in order for their nests to be destroyed by either pesticides or fire.
After removal, they may also recommend putting up new wire mesh if needed around vents or other areas where entry was possible.
When dealing with Woodpecker on a Roof, you need to deal with them as soon as possible.
They can cause expensive structural damage and even pose a public health risk if they defecate in an area where people walk or congregate.
Woodpeckers are protected birds under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) which makes it illegal to kill, capture or sell them.
The law does not prohibit the birds from entering a building and causing damage; however, you should always try prevention before removing them using professional pest control methods such as bird spikes, netting and fencing.
Tips and Tricks to Prevent the Woodpeckers on Your Roof
Here are some tips you may want to consider:
1. Put wire mesh on any exposed areas of your roof to prevent entry
2. Make sure there are no nests located in the building before sealing off possible entry points with a heavy gauge metal gauze or plastic netting.
Also, seal holes leading into walls and attics from outside as well
3. Avoid leaving food sources such as uncovered trash cans or pet food outdoors
4. Keep bushes and shrubs trimmed around your home to eliminate possible nesting sites
5. If the woodpeckers are roosting on any trees near your house, trim these back as well.
Also make sure you remove bird feeders during this time of year since they will attract other birds that may prey upon them such as owls, hawks or kestrels
6. Use bird spikes on the roof to keep them away from areas where they are causing damage.
Also use netting over any vents leading into your home to prevent entry by small birds that may be nesting there as well
When dealing with Woodpecker on a Roof, it is best to call in a professional pest control company to handle the removal of the birds.
They will help you remove them safely and humanely, which is better than killing them or hurting them with a method that could cause injury as well.
Woodpecker Removal Methods
There are several methods for removing woodpeckers from your home depending on their size and location:
1. Use a trap to safely capture the bird for relocation
2. Inject an insecticide into their nesting area which will kill them and any chicks they may be brooding there.
This method is not recommended because it can leave you with rotting wood from the decaying of their bodies as well as pheromones that attract more birds
3. Shoot or hit them with a BB gun or pellet on the head, but this will only work if they are visible and accessible to you.
Shooting them can also be illegal under some state laws so check before trying anything like this.
If dealing with Woodpecker on your roof seems daunting, contact a professional pest control company who is trained in removing birds humanely and safely.
Woodpecker on the roof of your home can be a health risk as well as an expensive problem to deal with if they are causing damage or nesting where people congregate or walk under.
They are protected birds that cannot just be killed, so it is best to call in a professional pest control company who will help you remove them safely if they are causing damage to your home.
Woodpecker Deterrents
Let’s also discuss some deterrents that can help you prevent these woodpeckers:
Visual – scare devices such as reflective tape, mylar balloons or kites can be used to startle Woodpeckers away
Auditory – loud noises like propane cannons and cracker shells are another way to scare them off.
These may not always work though since they do get used to these noise over time; also you should check with your local laws before using any kind of explosive device on your property
Chemical – there are products such as Roost No More that can be used to discourage them from roosting in the first place.
Simply spray them onto an existing woodpecker nest and it will repel these birds without harming them in any way. It is non-toxic, odorless and will not leave any residue behind.
Motion – solar powered deterrents such as the Owl Decoy, Scare Eye Ball and Flash Tape have been known to work in some cases.
These will reflect or flash when they sense movement nearby which can scare off Woodpeckers without a problem
When dealing with woodpeckers on a roof you want to remove them humanely while also trying to avoid harming them in any way.
This may be easier said than done since these birds are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act so you have to do everything possible not to harm them or else face legal consequences for doing this.
