Waking up to the sound of a jackhammer on the side of your house is a jarring experience. If you don’t have a construction crew outside, you likely have a woodpecker.

In Louisville, the most common culprits are the Downy Woodpecker, the Red-Bellied Woodpecker, and the Northern Flicker. While these birds are fascinating to watch in the woods, they can cause thousands of dollars in damage to cedar siding, stucco, and trim.

To stop them, you first have to understand why they are doing it. Woodpeckers peck for three distinct reasons, and the solution depends entirely on the motivation.

Reason 1: Drumming (Noise & Territory)

The Behavior: Rapid-fire, machine-gun tapping. It is loud and rhythmic. They often target metal objects like gutters, chimney caps, or vents because they resonate loudly. The Goal: This is not about food. This is about love and war. Male woodpeckers drum to attract a mate and declare their territory to other males. This usually happens in spring (March-May). The Damage: Usually minimal. They might dent your gutter or chip some paint, but they aren’t drilling deep holes. The Fix: Since this is a territorial behavior, you need to annoy them.

• Visual Deterrents: Hang shiny, moving objects near the drumming site. Mylar flash tape (reflective ribbon), aluminum pie pans, or “scare-eye” balloons work well.
• Sound: Loud noises or clapping can startle them away temporarily.

Reason 2: Feeding (The Real Damage)

The Behavior: You see messy, jagged holes drilled into wood siding or trim. You might see them pecking and then pausing to listen. The Goal: They are hungry. They hear insects moving inside your wood. In Louisville, this is almost always Carpenter Bee larvae or other wood-boring beetles. The Damage: Severe. They will shred fascia boards and siding to get to the juicy larvae inside. The Fix: You cannot stop the bird until you stop the bugs.

1. Treat the Insects: You must hire a pest control professional to treat the carpenter bees or beetles.
2. Repair the Wood: Once the insects are dead, fill the holes with wood putty or replace the damaged boards to prevent future infestations.
3. Deterrents: Use visual deterrents while the insect treatment takes effect.

Reason 3: Nesting (Housing)

The Behavior: The bird is excavating a single, large, perfectly round hole (about 2-3 inches in diameter). It goes deep into the void behind the siding. The Goal: They are building a cavity nest to raise babies. This happens in breeding season (April-June). The Damage: A large hole that lets rain, squirrels, and other pests into your attic or walls. The Fix:

• Timing is Critical: If there are no eggs or babies yet, you can exclude the bird. Install heavy-duty netting or hardware cloth over the area, spaced 3 inches away from the wall so they can’t peck through it.
• If Eggs are Present: Woodpeckers are federally protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. It is illegal to remove or destroy an active nest. You must wait until the babies fledge (leave the nest) before you can seal the hole.

Long-Term Solutions

If you have a recurring problem, consider:

• Suet Feeders: Providing a high-energy food source (suet) away from the house might distract them, but it can also attract more birds. Use with caution.
• Bird Houses: Putting up a woodpecker nesting box nearby gives them an alternative to your siding.
• Material Change: If you have cedar siding, you will always be a target. Replacing wood trim with PVC or cement board (Hardie board) eliminates the insect problem and is too hard for them to peck.

If your home is under attack, Critter Removal of Louisville can help identify the cause and install professional deterrents or exclusion netting to protect your property.