Woodpecker Hole in House

9 years ago

It isn't mating season, so I don't think he's using our house as a drum. It is the only spot the downy woodpecker attacks and has for a few weeks now. I'm hoping he has not discovered ants or termites. Has anyone else had this problem and if so, other than filling the hole with wood filler and covering the hole with thin sheet metal, what else can one do?

Square butted cedar shakes

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/wp_about/control.html

Thanks for looking and for any help you may give.

Jane

Featured Answer

homegrowninthe603

9 years ago

Here it's usually the hairies, but sometimes a downy. Carpenter bees drill holes and deposit larvae in the boards on the old garage. The woodpeckers tap into the holes going after it.

Haven't really solved the problem. I just shoo them away when I hear them, and we have filled some holes. It doesn't happen too often, but I guess I'd be more concerned if it was on the house and there was possibility of some bug infestation.

Susan

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (11)

Marie Tulin Boston burbs z 6a
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
It sounds like you've seen the woodpecker in action and are sure it is not any other creature ?
corunum z6 CT thanked Marie Tulin Boston burbs z 6a
corunum z6 CT
Original Author
9 years ago
Yes, I have, Marie. It's a downy. Today he riveted away and I pounded on the wall inside. That ended his tapping, but he'll be back until I fix the hole.
Related Professionals
Charleston Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Davenport Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Fort Wayne Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Keene Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Middletown Landscape Contractors · Nashua Landscape Contractors · Portsmouth Landscape Contractors · Baltimore Tile and Stone Contractors · Grand Island Tile and Stone Contractors · South Sioux City Tile and Stone Contractors · Kenosha Tile and Stone Contractors · San Angelo Tile and Stone Contractors · Yakima Tile and Stone Contractors · Sarnia Tile and Stone Contractors · Cowansville Tile and Stone Contractors
corunum z6 CT
Original Author
9 years ago
I'll find out soon. This morning I filled the hole with wood filler then covered it with a piece of thin hastelloy x foil stock (an aerospace business leftover) and used duct tape to hold the metal on. You may well be right about the carpenter bees, we certainly have them. This, thankfully, is the only drilling spot...so far. Fingers are crossed.
moliep
9 years ago
Jane, we had a big problem with carpenter bees and woodpeckers at my first house, which was in the woods. The carpenter bees tunneled into the fascia and soffit boards to create their long nesting chambers. Then the woodpeckers would come after the grubs and hammer away.

But your damage looks like a divot in the siding, so hopefully it's from the woodpecker's urge to pound and not hunt for grubs. We knew we had carpenter bees because we'd see them around the eaves, because of all the sawdust that drifted down from the wood, and because close examination showed that tunnels were present in the boards.

Hope this has been solved!
corunum z6 CT thanked moliep
Pat Z5or6 SEMich
9 years ago
Maybe a local "pest control" company would look for signs of carpenter bees or ants where one might not normally look?
corunum z6 CT thanked Pat Z5or6 SEMich
casey1gw
9 years ago
Woodpeckers have a natural behavior called drumming. They'll hammer an area relentlessly even though there are no insects. I've had to bang on my walls often to scare them away.
corunum z6 CT thanked casey1gw
Marie Tulin Boston burbs z 6a
9 years ago
Funny, a little downy has been hammering away for two weeks. We put a piece of metal over the soft spot in the siding, but after a week's absence it "appears" (sounds) like it's found another spot. His spot is on the wall outside the head of our bed. Fortunately it doesn't start until about 10 am
corunum z6 CT thanked Marie Tulin Boston burbs z 6a
corunum z6 CT
Original Author
9 years ago
Update: the patch I made did stop him. I hope it's a permanent fix.

Jane
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
9 years ago
"Fortunately it doesn't start until about 10 am"

My introduction to yellow-bellied sapsuckers was one that chose the metal antenna on the roof above our bedroom to use for drumming. Unfortunately, he chose to start before 6 AM . . .

Glad to hear that the patch worked, Jane.
corunum z6 CT thanked NHBabs z4b-5a NH
Marie Tulin Boston burbs z 6a
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
starts at 6, and I'll take advantage of limited gun control laws.....what a ridiculous fantasy....I couldn't hit the "broad side of a barn."