Woodpecker power pests

WOODPECKERS are causing a nuisance to the power network by drilling into telegraph poles, a utility company has warned.

UK Power Networks, which distributes electricity in the south east and east of England, said that in the last year alone it had seen 6,000 wooden poles across Kent and East Anglia damaged. Great spotted woodpecker numbers have risen by 136 per cent in the past 20 years, while green woodpecker numbers are up by 31 per cent, figures from the British Trust for Ornithology show.

UK Power Networks is testing a wood filler designed to repel the birds. The substance is used to fill in holes to dissuade them from causing further damage as they try to build their nests.

Ian Cameron, head of innovation at the company, said: “We’ve noticed an increase in the number of our poles that had to be replaced because of woodpecker damage resulting in loss of power for our customers.”