Woodpecker comeback is leaving holes in power grid

THE revival of woodpeckers is one of the great conservation success stories of recent years.

But it has come with a downside – for wooden electricity poles.

The woodpeckers drill holes in them to create nests and forage for food, often returning to the same pole to peck away again.

The rising numbers of the birds means thousands of damaged poles are at risk of collapsing and bringing down power lines.

To deal with the problem a power company is testing a new wood filler which contains a fragrance that is harmless to woodpeckers, which are protected by law, but repels them.

The hope is that birds returning to a pole which has been repaired with the filler will be encouraged to look elsewhere.

Ian Cameron, of UK Power Networks, said: ‘We think it’s a perfect way of keeping our customers’ lights on while respecting the wildlife population.’