anyone else have woodpeckers destroying their property?

[jbripps]

Hi,

I've had woodpeckers pecking away at the kid's playset. We have a Rainbow Direct swing/playset that is constructed from wood. Not cheap.

these little bastard woodpeckers have been doing a number on it, and have pecked holes all over it....big ones too. How can I get them away for good???

Any advice is appreciated.

Jon

[Joeaksa]

Pellet gun. I have the exact same thing but they are going after my house. Houses here are made out of stucco and these blasted things are pecking the covering away from the house.

Problem around here is that they are a protected critter and we are not supposed to shoot them. If I tag the little bastard then someone turns me in the the critter cops will have kittens...

[jbripps]

No good....they do this when I'm not home....and I'm not a good shot anyway....If I miss...I would probably hit a neighboring house. Can I spray it down with something?

[jhelgesen]

I had a RHWP pecking away on the cedar siding of my house, hung a plastic owl from the gutter near where he was working, never saw him again.......

[notfarnow]

Originally Posted by jhelgesen

I had a RHWP pecking away on the cedar siding of my house, hung a plastic owl from the gutter near where he was working, never saw him again.......

+1

Had a woodpecker on my apple tree for ages. Screaming, cursing and banging pots only got the attention of my neighbor, who suggested the plastic owl. Woodpecker hasn't been back since

[Mule]

I had a retarded woodpecker who would peck on the guttercan ad make tons of racket.

[Tobra]

Go to a hunter type place and get some fox urine, though that may be better for squirrels. Those mylar strips are said to discourage birds, though I am dubious of this. You can also get some stuff that I think is called hot foot, this is more for keeping pigeons off ledges.

[The Gaijin]

Apparently half their knocking is for digging out food and the other half is to make a racket to attract a mate.. (Go figure.) We have one that loves to bang away on the tin roof of the barn and sounds like a gattling gun..

[id10t]

Mule - trashcans and metal chimneys are great targets for Woody - make lots of noise, its how he does his "mating call"

Have some Peliated woodies at my Mom's house (got some at mine too, but my chimney ain't metal) and they'd make it sound like a jackhammer going off in her living room early in the mornings during mating season...

[jbripps]

great ideas fellas....thanks so much. I'll try the owl route and see how it goes....just got to find one.

The last thing I want to do is spray piss all over the wood my kids play on....lol.

J

[id10t]

jbripps - you should be able to get an owl decoy from cabelas, gander mountain, etc.

[911 in SC]

The plastic owl worked for me too. In fact, 'it' moved with us when we moved several years ago. The plastic owl now resides on my deck rail. I move it every so often, and haven't seen or heard any woodpeckers since. A pretty cool conversation piece, to say the least. I can't remember where I purchased it though. I filled mine with playsand so that I wouldn't have to mount it. Works great.

[89911]

A Well made pump air rifle with a 4x scope can make a sniper out of anyone. I live in a cedar home and have had numerous run ins with Wood Peckers. Tried everything mentioned and nothing worked. Ever since I got the weapon, no sign. It must of seen me bring it in the house.

[jhelgesen]

I found my plastic owl in the local Lowes/Home depot in the bug spray section.....

[Victor]

Try playing any Metallica tune at a minimum of 88 decibels. Should sort the problem - pissing all over the perch like the previous member suggested will work too. You will find that the results will be amplified 100 fold if done simultaneously. Tattooed fore-arms will help if you are fortunate enough and by sheer coincidence happen to be facing north with a rasher of bacon around your neck. But I have heard you have to be naked for the full effect to kick in.

Failing that, you can make napalm by dissolving styrofoam packaging in 2-stroke fuel to a sludgy consistency and then projecting it with one of those pressure-pack pump action weed sprayers. All's you need then is a regulation cigarette lighter and you can kiss that little SOB woodpecker AUF-WIEDERSEHEN!

Can you say "FLAMMEN WERFER"?

Good luck and God bless brother!

[kycarguy 935]

Woody wakes me up nearly every morning pecking on the house. I like the Metallica idea and may have to give it a try.