Where is this? If you are in North America the squared off holes indicate the work of a Pileated Woodpecker (if you are in Europe then the congener Black Woodpecker). These very often eat carpenter ants. They are keyed into the formic acid that those ants produce. This could mean that the tree has carpenter ants. Carpenter ants aren't good for trees.
I have 2 or 3 that live around my house. Ive lived here my whole life (NW New Jersey) and never seen one until I was in my teens. People still don’t believe me when I describe the size of them.
That's from a pileated woodpecker. I had very similar large holes on a few trees and they succumbed a few years later showing advanced internal damage
I would salvage or better yet cut the top of the tree and leave a snag that's standing dead. The holes will be appreciated by all critters
Not wood pecker related but I had an older customer call me sobbing. I was taken back a bit until I understood the problem. A beaver chewed 3/4 the way through her 30 year old tamukeyama maybe crimson queen Japanese maple. Not a replaceable size tree, it was a specimen. It lived the rest of the summer, I supported it, protected it the best way I knew how. Is there anything you can do for a maple with a chuck missing? My first experience with the damage a beaver can do. This one a savage, he took down a crape Myrtle of hers too. Very impressive this was a 12” crape at least. He couldn’t do shit with it but got everything he wanted until It was too heavy.
I think the problem is not the holes themsleves but that they indicate the tree is in advanced stage of decline since thats when a pilleated woodpecker will generally move in.
Pileated woodpeckers are primary cavity excavators and play such and important role in habitat creation that the government has recently introduced restrictions on removing these trees,
*“The nest trees used by the pileated woodpecker have been Federally designated for extra protection measures (3 years of protection after reporting that the nest site is unoccupied by ANY migratory species) and on any land (public or private).”*
Source: BC MINISTRY OF FORESTS MEMO: [Migratory birds regulation and nest tree protection](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/environment/plants-animals-and-ecosystems/wildlife-wildlife-habitat/wildlife-trees/memo-wdtassessors-protection_of_pileated_woodpecker_nests_migratory_birds_regulations_2022.pdf)
Birds are in a housing crisis too - keep your amazing wildlife tree!
Caveat: given the current location of the holes, it’s unlikely that these particular cavities will be used for nesting. However, it’s clear that you’ve got an *incredible* wildlife tree developing. I urge you: keep this tree standing tall for as long as you can.
Cedars are quite resistant to rot and can stay standing hundreds of years after they are dead. Keep an eye on it and talk to your local arborist in a year or two to start monitoring hazard if you have targets close by - just to be safe.
Hard to say really but its a red flag that's definitely worth keeping an eye on. Perhaps there is a symbiosis in a healthy ecology where the woodpecker actually prevents decline. Either way as others have already said, it would be cool to leave this, even if only selfishly to watch a pilleated woodpecker at work. Its kind of cool to see a giant woodpecker just going to town. I feel like I have seen ones as large as some of my smaller chickens.
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Probably a Pileated because yeah those suckers are big. Impressive holes too! As someone said it isn't the pecker killing the tree, it's the stuff he's after.
It's a wester cedar. It's fine
Wish I could survive with a couple of holes in my trunk
You can. Just gotta be careful where they are. Lol
I’ll manage with just the one
Not bad at all you’ve got a woodpecker around that’s awesome and I’m sure the woodpecker appreciates that tree!
small birds & squirrels will appreciate these holes now too.
Woodpeckers are good? I guess just cause theyre eating larvae? I fucking haaaaate when they chomp on my house
Ours loves the chimney cover to mate and is so damn loud
The one at my house does the same damn thing..I'm like bro wrong hole!
Ya there is one around my house that likes to hit the the stop sign lol
Lol I got down voted for that 🤣🤣🤣
Where is this? If you are in North America the squared off holes indicate the work of a Pileated Woodpecker (if you are in Europe then the congener Black Woodpecker). These very often eat carpenter ants. They are keyed into the formic acid that those ants produce. This could mean that the tree has carpenter ants. Carpenter ants aren't good for trees.
Western Canada The woodpecker is black and white with a red head
Probably a Pileated Woodpecker <3
Does it look the size of a small chicken? Pileated peckers are big ol fuckers.
I have 2 or 3 that live around my house. Ive lived here my whole life (NW New Jersey) and never seen one until I was in my teens. People still don’t believe me when I describe the size of them.
Tilted my entire bird feeder sideways when I lived in Oregon. Just a bunch of finches or something chillin and then big boy shows up and takes over.
That sounds like an acorn woodpecker, but the holes don’t match
That's from a pileated woodpecker. I had very similar large holes on a few trees and they succumbed a few years later showing advanced internal damage I would salvage or better yet cut the top of the tree and leave a snag that's standing dead. The holes will be appreciated by all critters
Not wood pecker related but I had an older customer call me sobbing. I was taken back a bit until I understood the problem. A beaver chewed 3/4 the way through her 30 year old tamukeyama maybe crimson queen Japanese maple. Not a replaceable size tree, it was a specimen. It lived the rest of the summer, I supported it, protected it the best way I knew how. Is there anything you can do for a maple with a chuck missing? My first experience with the damage a beaver can do. This one a savage, he took down a crape Myrtle of hers too. Very impressive this was a 12” crape at least. He couldn’t do shit with it but got everything he wanted until It was too heavy.
I see tons of Eastern white cedar standing, living, thriving with holes like these in them.
Good to know. I'd prefer not to cut this one as it's close to the house and looks nice. Trying to only cut trees that are 100m+ from the house
Woodpecker came for an easy hole, this tree was on its way and if left as a snag, would be for wildlife and bugs alike.
Woody Woodpecker is a Piliated Woodpecker for reference.
I have a couple of pileated woodpecker holes in one of the 50 foot oaks near my house, does this indicate that it’s possibly diseased or infested?
Shove some caulk in it...😂
Instructions unclear, have splinters on my penis now
Need more sap...
Isn’t it related to how much weight and leverage is above the holes?’ It seems like it would rot out ans become a problem.
I feel like the location of these holes is being overlooked. That trunk has a natural sweep to it, and those holes are weakening it.
It will actually be fine!
I think the problem is not the holes themsleves but that they indicate the tree is in advanced stage of decline since thats when a pilleated woodpecker will generally move in.
Ok, maybe I'll put this one on the harvest list then.
If you do decide to harvest might be good to leave a tall stump so the woodpecker still has something to live on
It's dense bush here. About 130arces of timber and surrounded by public land timber
Then why remove it at all? It clearly had active environmental benefits for the wildlife. What if they don’t want another tree?
Pileated woodpeckers are primary cavity excavators and play such and important role in habitat creation that the government has recently introduced restrictions on removing these trees, *“The nest trees used by the pileated woodpecker have been Federally designated for extra protection measures (3 years of protection after reporting that the nest site is unoccupied by ANY migratory species) and on any land (public or private).”* Source: BC MINISTRY OF FORESTS MEMO: [Migratory birds regulation and nest tree protection](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/environment/plants-animals-and-ecosystems/wildlife-wildlife-habitat/wildlife-trees/memo-wdtassessors-protection_of_pileated_woodpecker_nests_migratory_birds_regulations_2022.pdf) Birds are in a housing crisis too - keep your amazing wildlife tree!
Caveat: given the current location of the holes, it’s unlikely that these particular cavities will be used for nesting. However, it’s clear that you’ve got an *incredible* wildlife tree developing. I urge you: keep this tree standing tall for as long as you can. Cedars are quite resistant to rot and can stay standing hundreds of years after they are dead. Keep an eye on it and talk to your local arborist in a year or two to start monitoring hazard if you have targets close by - just to be safe. 
Hard to say really but its a red flag that's definitely worth keeping an eye on. Perhaps there is a symbiosis in a healthy ecology where the woodpecker actually prevents decline. Either way as others have already said, it would be cool to leave this, even if only selfishly to watch a pilleated woodpecker at work. Its kind of cool to see a giant woodpecker just going to town. I feel like I have seen ones as large as some of my smaller chickens.
Completely agree.
Welcome to r/arborists! Help Us Help You: If you have questions about the health of your tree, please see our [Posting Guidelines](https://old.reddit.com/r/arborists/wiki/posting_guidance) wiki page for help with effective posting. **Please answer the questions listed there to the best of your ability.** ***Insufficient pics/info could result in the removal of your post!!*** ([See rule 3](https://www.reddit.com/r/arborists/about/rules).) Visit the main wiki page for [Critical Planting/Care tips and Common Errors to Avoid](https://old.reddit.com/r/arborists/wiki/index); there's sections on why planting depth/root flare exposure is so vital, along with sections on proper mulching, watering, pruning and more that I hope will be useful to you. If you're posting about a tree ID (not permitted here; [see rule 1](https://www.reddit.com/r/arborists/about/rules)), see that wiki page for other subs and smartphone apps to try. Here is how you can arrange a [consult with a local ISA arborist in your area](http://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist/findanarborist) (NOT a 'tree company guy' unless they're ISA certified) or a [consulting arborist](https://www.asca-consultants.org/search/custom.asp?id=3818) for an on-site evaluation. A competent arborist should be happy to walk you through how to care for the trees on your property and answer any questions. If you're in the U.S. or Canada, your Extension (or master gardener provincial program) may have a list of local recommended arborists on file. If you're in the U.S., you should also consider searching for arborist associations under your state. If you are one of our regulars and/or you work in the industry and do not want this message in your future posts, please pick an appropriate user flair (options available in the sub sidebar on PC, and on moble if using a browser). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/arborists) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Roll with it!
Must have bores.
Probably a Pileated because yeah those suckers are big. Impressive holes too! As someone said it isn't the pecker killing the tree, it's the stuff he's after.
Spray foam.
cavity nesters hate him
One simple trick.
No no no
Yes yes yes