What could be making these holes in wood attic window ledge?

Jul 28th, 2021 8:15 am

#1

Sandwichhouser [OP]: Newbie; Jul 27, 2021; 3 posts

Jul 28th, 2021 8:15 am

What could be making these holes in wood attic window ledge?

Hey all,

I noticed the other day I had a hole in my painted window ledge, and then this morning there is a second one! They don’t look to be connected and seem quite shallow. What could be boring these holes into painted wood???

Also note the sawdust mixed with…god knows what that is splashed on the shingles. There was a fair amount of saw dust as well on my lower balcony deck. I’m located in southern Ontario for location context. What do I do about these holes as well?

Thanks!

Images

Jul 28th, 2021 9:27 am

#2

engineered: Deal Expert; Feb 11, 2007; 20270 posts; 24009 upvotes; GTA

Jul 28th, 2021 9:27 am

Woodpecker? Maybe you have bugs in there that they were after.

If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

+2

Jul 28th, 2021 11:25 am

#3

mrweather: Deal Fanatic; Aug 29, 2011; 8972 posts; 5994 upvotes; Mississauga

Jul 28th, 2021 11:25 am

Yellow jackets burrow into wood as well and will make holes like that.

+2

Jul 28th, 2021 11:33 am

#4

Jerico: Deal Guru; Jan 25, 2007; 12405 posts; 7581 upvotes; Paris

Jul 28th, 2021 11:33 am

There are also bees that bore, but their damage looks like a drill bit. My vote is a woodpecker.

+3

Jul 28th, 2021 11:50 am

#5

timofeewho: Member; Nov 13, 2019; 318 posts; 104 upvotes; Toronto

Jul 28th, 2021 11:50 am

I'm no woodpecker expert, but judging by the angle of the first shot, wouldn't the woodpecker need to be pecking horizontally? I don't think I've seen woodpeckers peck like that before, but who knows lol

+1

Jul 28th, 2021 11:52 am

#6

ChubChub: Deal Addict; Oct 9, 2010; 3138 posts; 1321 upvotes; Windsor

Jul 28th, 2021 11:52 am

To me, it looks like bees made the hole, then some animal decided it was going to try and open up the hole for some reason.

One who is offended by truth, has no place among those who seek wisdom.

+1

Jul 28th, 2021 11:54 am

#7

hierophant: Deal Fanatic; Feb 4, 2010; 6904 posts; 6675 upvotes

Jul 28th, 2021 11:54 am

ChubChub wrote: ↑ To me, it looks like bees made the hole, then some animal decided it was going to try and open up the hole for some reason.

That's what I'm thinking too - bee likely started it but those look like claw marks.

+1

Jul 28th, 2021 11:56 am

#8

Beneful1: Deal Addict; May 21, 2015; 1258 posts; 876 upvotes; Sarnia, ON

Jul 28th, 2021 11:56 am

Looks like it may be Carpenter bees. They leave a lot of sawdust and poop out the hole leaving a splash of excrement sort of like in that one picture.

+3

Jul 28th, 2021 11:58 am

#9

IcarusLSC: Deal Addict; Nov 7, 2016; 2650 posts; 1585 upvotes; Ontario

Jul 28th, 2021 11:58 am

A carpenter bee most likely started the hole and a woodpecker went in after to eat em...

+2

Jul 28th, 2021 12:10 pm

#10

Sandwichhouser [OP]: Newbie; Jul 27, 2021; 3 posts

Jul 28th, 2021 12:10 pm

I’m very interested in this theory of a woodpecker. I just have one question, the window ledge is located right above my bedroom . I can’t say I’ve heard any woodpecker noise at any point of the day (I’m currently working from home), or am would I not be able to hear anything at all?

Jul 28th, 2021 12:29 pm

#11

exrcoupe: Deal Addict; Apr 26, 2003; 2446 posts; 1501 upvotes; GTA

Jul 28th, 2021 12:29 pm

If it was a woodpecker, you'd hear it. I had a half-dead cherry tree in my backyard that was infested with ants and woodpeckers would hammer the tree all day going after them. I could hear them inside the house and the tree was about 10 feet away from the house. If it was hitting your house, you'd know.

+3

Jul 28th, 2021 4:56 pm

#12

IcarusLSC: Deal Addict; Nov 7, 2016; 2650 posts; 1585 upvotes; Ontario

Jul 28th, 2021 4:56 pm

You may not hear it every time. We have a pair of woodpeckers around our place and they regularly knock on our back deck which is right below my bedroom window, and I only hear it once in a blue moon...

Jul 28th, 2021 5:36 pm

#13

fkl118: Sr. Member; Apr 29, 2007; 932 posts; 640 upvotes; Richmond Hill

Jul 28th, 2021 5:36 pm

Beneful1 wrote: ↑ Looks like it may be Carpenter bees. They leave a lot of sawdust and poop out the hole leaving a splash of excrement sort of like in that one picture.

I'm guessing carpenter bees too.

OP, is there a perfectly round hole on the underside of the ledge?

+1

Jul 28th, 2021 5:53 pm

#14

thriftshopper: Deal Fanatic; Jul 7, 2017; 9166 posts; 4688 upvotes; SW corner of the cou…

Jul 28th, 2021 5:53 pm

Only woodpecker than is audacious enough to peck on homes would be a flicker. You would hear them though sometimes it does sound more like someone hammering very slowly and deliberately rather than rapidly.

I smile when I see container ships sailing past my house laden with stuff made in China

+1

Jul 28th, 2021 6:08 pm

#15

brianl999: Member; Mar 10, 2012; 328 posts; 334 upvotes; THORNHILL

Jul 28th, 2021 6:08 pm

I'm going with carpenter bee first, woodpecker second.

Can't tell for sure, but in that first shot it looks like it might have opened up a gallery (carpenter bee tunnel).

We have lots of carpenter bees around. Their holes are usually very clean, as someone else noted, like it was done with a drill bit. It does look like their excrement.

+1

Jul 28th, 2021 9:19 pm

#16

Sandwichhouser [OP]: Newbie; Jul 27, 2021; 3 posts

Jul 28th, 2021 9:19 pm

fkl118 wrote: ↑ I'm guessing carpenter bees too.

OP, is there a perfectly round hole on the underside of the ledge?

There is not a hole on the underside of the ledge. Just one hole on the top of the ledge and one on the side of the ledge (facing the street). They don’t look like they are connected, but because of the location it’s very difficult to investigate.