I’ve noticed my fruit trees have rows of small holes in the bark. I think a woodpecker might be the culprit. Has anyone dealt with this? What can I do to protect my trees?
Lyric said:
Woodpeckers usually go after bugs under the bark. If your tree has an infestation, they’re actually helping! The bugs are the real problem, not the woodpecker.
Could be sapsuckers, which are a type of woodpecker. They make holes to drink sap. If the holes are in rows, it’s likely them. Are you in the US?
Lyric said:
@Mika
You’re probably right. We’d need a picture to confirm. I’m still going with innocent until proven guilty!
I’ve seen them on my birch and Japanese maple, so it sounds possible.
@Mika
Not all woodpeckers go after bugs. Sometimes they just make noise to attract a mate or mark territory. It doesn’t always mean your tree is infested.
Noor said:
@Mika
Not all woodpeckers go after bugs. Sometimes they just make noise to attract a mate or mark territory. It doesn’t always mean your tree is infested.
True! They pick loud spots for noise, not damage. I had one bang on my house once.
Not a great alarm clock though:
- Cons: Random wake-ups between 4:45 and 6:15 am. No snooze button except yelling outside.
- Pros: It did wake me up.
@Rene
Same here! I thought it meant bugs in my siding. Turns out it just loved pecking metal for noise.
Noor said:
@Mika
Not all woodpeckers go after bugs. Sometimes they just make noise to attract a mate or mark territory. It doesn’t always mean your tree is infested.
Had one go at our metal chimney pipe. The noise echoed like a machine gun through the house!
@Mika
Actually, sapsuckers peck to get sap flowing, which attracts insects. Then they eat the insects.
@Mika
I’m seeing holes in my young pecan tree, but they’re random and not in a row. Sap is leaking out. Should I call Master Gardeners?
Lyric said:
Woodpeckers usually go after bugs under the bark. If your tree has an infestation, they’re actually helping! The bugs are the real problem, not the woodpecker.
If the holes are evenly spaced in rows, they’re probably from sapsuckers. They don’t drill for bugs but for sap, which attracts insects that they eat.
Kieran said:
@Blair
Sapsuckers are still woodpeckers though. So technically, these are woodpecker holes.
Sure, but sapsuckers and other woodpeckers behave differently and affect trees differently. It’s worth making the distinction.
Kieran said:
@Blair
I think you could explain it better without saying they aren’t woodpeckers. Just saying.
Fair enough. 
If you’re in the US, yellow-bellied sapsuckers cause this damage. Severe cases can kill a tree. I have a damaged tree, and arborists told me to deter the birds so the tree can heal. Easier said than done though—woodpeckers are stubborn.
@Corey
I’ve had success attracting scrub jays. They’re super territorial and chase off woodpeckers. I let the jays have some fruit as a thank-you.
Ori said:
@Corey
I’ve had success attracting scrub jays. They’re super territorial and chase off woodpeckers. I let the jays have some fruit as a thank-you.
Wish we had scrub jays here. I attract owls, but still have way too many woodpeckers.
@Corey
Blue jays are territorial too. Mine once chased off hawks, though I wasn’t thrilled about that.
Roux said:
@Corey
Blue jays are territorial too. Mine once chased off hawks, though I wasn’t thrilled about that.
Yeah, I’ve got blue jays too. Still, woodpeckers outnumber everything!
@Corey
If they nest in your yard, they’ll get even meaner. They’ll swoop at anything that moves.
@Corey
Where are you that has sapsuckers but no jays? Most places with sapsuckers also have jays.