- 1). Exclude pileated woodpeckers from the holes they have begun drilling in your trees. Stretch a piece of thick 3-mil plastic over the affected area, and secure it with nails, staples or tacks. This step will prevent the bird from being able to cling to the bark with its claws and will end drilling at the site.
- 2). Scare the woodpecker each time you spot it. Run outside, clap your hands and yell at it. Fire a child’s cap gun, or beat on an old pot with a metal spoon. Take your dog with you, and encourage your dog to harass the bird. Spray the bird with the water hose.
- 3). Tack or hang shiny objects that will move in the breeze up in the pecking area. Use a child’s pinwheel toy, mylar or foil strips, and aluminum pie tins.
- 4). Hang bright-colored mylar balloons with fishing line so they will flutter around the pileated woodpecker’s damage site.
- 5). Tie a silver mylar helium balloon to a rock or brick with fishing line. Place it so the balloon will bob upward around the woodpecker’s activity area.
- 6). Mount a plastic owl on a branch or pole near the damaged area. Hang a rubber snake from the tree trunk, and put other rubber snakes at the foot of the tree.
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