I have a customer that needs help removing Pileated Woodpeckers. They are pecking the mirrors off of the vans and cars in the parking lot. How do I trap or remove them?

They will be protected under Federal and likely State laws. Best check with your states DNR BEFORE doing anything.

Permit required.

Cover the mirrors with cloth , so they don't see themselves. Happens around here all the time, half the cars in driveways have the mirrors covered. They sure will bust them out. It doesn't last for very long, and eventually it will stop.

Or you could paste a picture of Hillary Clinton over the mirrors. This will scare the heck out of woodpeckers. Unfortunately not the voters.

...or Nancy Pelosi or Joan Rivers if you don't want to see Hilary

I have checked with the state. There is a permit that I can get to remove them, but the question is HOW?

Are you asking “How” to get the permit or “How” to remove them after getting the permit? For information on acquiring the permit, Check Region 3 in this link- PERMITS They will probably be able to make recommendations for removal methods too.

Sorry, yes, I need help with how to actually get rid of the woodpeckers. How to trap them? The permit is relatively easy to get. I just need some know how to trap them effectively.

I hesitate from answering because of the nature of the problem. All of our jobs dealt with holes in wooden wrapped houses. A permit from the owner, a rat trap with woodpecker bait on the trigger, and no more problem.

I can't imagine that a rat trap bungeed to a rear view mirror would solve the problem, but I guess it's worth a try. ( I guess after attacking your rival in the mirror for two hours, you'd probably get hungry too. )