How about both! True you wanna keep these winged warriors away from any manmade structure...they can and will do some damage! But they do a glorious job in the woods protecting our trees from pesky parasites! And they sure are pretty!
So what to do about Woody? Call the bug guy! Woodpeckers LOVE insects. If your home or yard is infested, it is the perfect free buffet for a woodpecker! Bees, ants, and termites are the common reasons for woodpeckers to target a home, so check for signs of infestations inclding hives, rotting wood, or dead insects.
Give them something else to munch on! Suet, a product made from cow fat, particularly in the late fall, winter, and early spring when other food is scarce. Set up a bird feeder near where the woodpecker's are currently feeding to attract them to a different meal. Gradually start moving the feeder away from your home by a few feet each day. You can remove the feeder completely once summer arrives and the birds are trainded to avoid your home.
Woodpeckers do eat fruits and berries as well, so you can plant fruit trees and bushes around the perimeter of your yard, well away from your house, to divert the birds's attention from your home.
You can also try "scarecrows", netting as well as other deterrents. Stop in and consult with one of our Lawn and Garden Specialists to find the best solution for your woodpecker dilemma!
