Woodpeckers' head-pounding pecking against trees and telephone poles subjects them to enormous forces — they can easily slam their beaks against wood with a force 1,000 times that of gravity. That means it is illegal to kill them or capture them. Recommendations include: Visual deterrents - Hang up items that will blow and swing in the breeze to scare them away. Regardless, woodpeckers are a migratory non-game bird and are protected by the State and Federal Wildlife Departments and therefore should not be harmed. A U.S. Woodpeckers are classified as migratory nongame birds and are protected by the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Flicker control permits are not issued from May 15 through August 15, except in special circumstances. Once you know why woodpeckers are hammering on your house, you can develop strategies for stopping them. Scientists even think some of the things they found out about woodpeckers can be used to make better helmets. Woodpeckers are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. This was a pledge made under the Migratory Birds Convention, which was signed by the United Kingdom, on behalf of Canada, and the United States in 1916.. Any migratory bird species that meets all 3 of the following criteria is protected in Canada under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994: Take a look at Can Woodpecker Deterrents Safeguard My House? Fish and Wildlife can issue a permit that allows exceptions. Regardless of why they’re pecking on your house, the damage woodpeckers cause is real and should be stopped as soon as possible. This means that most control methods are some form of disturbance. Steps to getting rid of Woodpeckers: Why We Want to Keep Woodpeckers Out That means it is illegal to kill them or capture them. Here are 6 reasons why woodpeckers peck wood! Legally all woodpeckers are protected so can not be legally killed without a federal permit. Since they are protected, professional woodpecker control is usually needed. An insectivore, it inhabits deciduous forests in eastern North America, the Great Lakes, the boreal forests of Canada, and parts of the Pacific Coast.It is the largest common woodpecker in the U.S., possibly second to the critically endangered or extinct ivory-billed. Woodpeckers are classified as migratory, nongame birds and are protected by state and federal laws. Woodpeckers are federally protected because they are migratory, non-game birds and killing them without being in possession of the correct permits will result in a very hefty fine. Like many animals, woodpeckers … Like any other creature on this planet, woodpeckers have their own unique way of finding food. For instance, bald eagles come to the water surface and dip their feet into the water to catch fish. The other half of the time they can wreak some havoc on your house - and fairly quickly. for ideas on how to deal with troublesome woodpeckers. The pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) is a large, mostly black woodpecker native to North America. Maybe one day your noggin will be as well protected from damage as a woodpecker’s brain. We do advise you to follow your local laws when dealing with all animals. Criteria for protection. A woodpecker’s skull is like an internal bike helmet to keep its brain from getting hurt. Woodpeckers peck wood to find their food. Fish and Wildlife Service permit is required when capturing, killing or possessing a migratory bird (any bird except upland game birds, house sparrows, starlings and pigeons). All woodpeckers are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 as migratory insectivorous birds and are classified as non-game by the state. Under certain circumstances, U.S. Canada protects certain families of birds. A federal permit is required before any lethal control methods are employed. Researchers at the Lab of Ornithology have performed studies relating nuisance woodpeckers.