Woodpeckers feed on wood-boring insects, insects on trees and the ground, vegetable matter, berries or tree sap. They hammer on the sides of houses to attract mates, establish or defend territory, to excavate nesting or roosting sites, and to search for insects. Yellow-bellied sapsuckers pack a series of small holes about 1/4 inch in diameter in a symmetrical pattern in the bark. Generally, the holes are made in horizontal rings (full or partial) around the trunk or branches. Holes extend through the bark to the cambium.
Damage controls include wrapping trees with burlap, spraying trunk with soap solution, visual repellents, loud noises, exclusion and alternate construction materials. Few chemicals are effective for repelling woodpeckers, and none are currently registered for that use.