At the Northern Green conference in January of 2017 Mark Abrahamson, Assistant Director of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, presented copious evidence of the direct correlation between woodpecker damage to ash trees and an Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) infestation. Woodpecker damage is described in two ways:
The photos show both fresh pecking and flecking caused by the Downy woodpecker in the picture, on the tree outside my office in the Seward Neighborhood of Minneapolis.
While researching this topic, I found references mentioning the helpfulness of woodpeckers to trees to manage insect infestations. I have not seen woodpeckers damage to trees that ever helped a tree. But woodpeckers need habitat too – hopefully not your siding!
Contact our team of ISA Certified Arborists and Board Certified Master Arborists to assist with any issues you have with your trees.
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