# Woodpeckers

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodpeckers/623027>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 25, 2012, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodpeckers/623027 "2012-05-25T01:04:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodpeckers/623027/1 "2012-05-25T01:04:20Z")

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For the first time this year one tree we have has been mutilated by woodpeckers. There are maybe 10 large holes extending deep into the trunk. What would cause a tree to be suddenly attacked by woodpeckers.

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**Author:** ![conurepete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e57/32.png) [@conurepete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/conurepete)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodpeckers/623027/2 "2012-05-25T01:06:51Z")

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It might be infested with some bug they like eating.

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**Author:** ![Intolt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ec9cab/32.png) [@Intolt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intolt)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodpeckers/623027/3 "2012-05-25T01:10:11Z")

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Is it a particular churlish tree?

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**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodpeckers/623027/4 "2012-05-25T01:12:07Z")

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> [@conurepete](#):
>
> It might be infested with some bug they like eating.

Yeah. Usually the tree has been compromised by an infestation before the woodpeckers show up.

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**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodpeckers/623027/5 "2012-05-25T01:42:17Z")

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It is a piece of crap locust. I don’t see any obvious infestation, although I am not sure what to look for.

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**Author:** ![Gbro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Gbro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gbro)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodpeckers/623027/6 "2012-05-25T02:31:47Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> There are maybe 10 large holes extending deep into the trunk

Then the tree or that portion where the holes are is dead and decayed. A woodpecker might be trying to burrow deep enough to make a nest in the soft decayed wood.  
Have you identified the woodpecker yet? I have watched [Pileated](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/006/cache/pileated-woodpecker_660_600x450.jpg&imgrefurl=http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/pileated-woodpecker/&h=580&w=435&sz=54&tbnid=eiuz-t6LstWkjM:&tbnh=91&tbnw=68&zoom=1&usg=__eMlNq_vTAqL4pKMpb9NgZb9-RPc=&docid=yaFKMW08YlyN8M&hl=en&sa=X&ei=dO6-T7_YEqqa2AXQtYGVCg&sqi=2&ved=0CHQQ9QEwAg&dur=320) woodpeckers tear up a tree and they can make a big mess.

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**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodpeckers/623027/7 "2012-05-25T02:42:01Z")

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I have heard it, but not seen it this year. Previously we had been visited by a red-headed woodpecker. I assume that it is the same bird.