If anyone has any thoughts about discouraging Arizona woodpeckers from attacking my log sided cabin I would be thankful. My log faced cabin has been subjected to woodpeckers over the years. I have filled the holes with caulk and repainted the affected areas. These woodpeckers keep coming back to my place. About 6 years ago I had the entire place covered with a net and thought I was finished but it seems not. Regards, Michael
Hi Michael,
We love birds as long as they don't impede on our homes. We published a Q&A article related to the issue you mentioned in your post. Go to the Cabin Life magazine home page and do a search for "woodpeckers". Hope you will find the solutions helpful. Let us know the outcome.
Gee, and to think I was complaining about our unwanted owl messing on the cabin. I'll take our owl over your woodpecker any day. Best of luck with eradicating Woody Woodpecker.
We had the same problem with our cabin in Virginia a few years ago and it was because carpenter bees had burrowed into the wood and laid eggs. When they hatch, the woodpeckers hear the larva moving around and go after them. We now have the house sprayed quarterly and mixed an insecticide in with the stain when we re-stained. The bees still try to drill into the wood, but so far, no new nests and no woodpecker damage.
Good luck!
Vicki in Edinburg
Dear Michael,
I haven't been to the Cabin Life page on Woodpeckers yet but have had my cedar A frame cabin attacked by one of the smallest species - Downies - for years. When you pack the holes, be sure to mix in something they don't like to eat, like cayenne pepper. My best success has been from those life sized plastic owls, one hung by each side they attack. This deters them significantly. if I don't get them, hornets move in, and one fall at this time they were taken up by flying squirrels. I know that siding would be a final solution but can't bring myself to do it. There is some nice "log cabin:" siding my neighbors have on, but I don't think you'd want to do that any more than i would.