Woodpecker Tips... The Gila Woodpecker and the Northern Flicker are the carpenters of the holes in the Saguaro cactus. These birds are protected by law. They have been nesting in Saguaros for centuries and are very sterile when pecking their nesting holes. The black ooze observed is the healing process of the Saguaro, this is normal. Anytime the flesh is exposed a chemical defense in the plant rushes to the open wound and seals the exposed tissue. The black ooze will stain rock, sidewalks, stucco, and clothes. So rinse off with water as soon as possible. You can rinse off the Saguaro but do not soak or fill the hole with water. I often get asked if you can patch or fill the hole. Very simply...NO! The number one reason you can't fill it is that YOU will cause the Saguaro to trap moisture. If moisture is trapped in a wound it will cause rot. That could result in you doing more harm to the Saguaro then the woodpecker could ever do. The other reason, (as if death isn't a good enough reason), is because you'll simply entice our desert carpenters to drill a new home. Even though we hate them building their homes in our landscape plants, this is nature. Another frequent question is "How do I get rid of them?" There are no sure bets, but here are some ideas I've heard: Make a cut-out of a predetor bird, hang so it looks like it's hunting or swooping down. Also a large pair of predetor eyes. I have heard of a large beach ball that has eyes on it. Be sure to hang it so the wind catches it.

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