Strange Holes on Exterior Cedar Siding

What critter would be chewing/pecking? a 2-3 inch diameter hole in the side of my house about 1 story up? There seems to be no visible way for said critter to climb up the outside of the house (no ledges/roof/vents). And there are several holes in various spots at the same height but different locations.

woodpecker.

Figured we would have heard it pecking away but nothing.

Pictures.

Could be squirrels.  I have seen them walk up the side of a house or jump onto a house from a nearby overhanging branch.

Thought squirrels too. Seems like it would be a significant jump from the closest tree and I've never seen them climbing straight up the side of our house. Could it be mice? And if so should I put steel wool in the holes or use some kind of bait/trap to be rid of them?

Steel wool in the holes could just lead to more holes. I would suggest having an exterminator take a look rather than trying to guess at the cause.

there are flying squirrels!

could be carpenter bees. 

The holes are too large for carpenter bees. I'm thinking bird or squirrel. Definitely call pest control person.

What company would you recommend?

Jerry Buckingham. Maplewood.

973-762-6760

Flying squirrels- they tend to live in colonies and are nocturnal.

It is a woodpecker! Saw it earlier today. Another hole making 4 in total. Now what?

I think woodpeckers are actually a sign of insects. I've read it's not actually the wood they're after, it's the insects. So I'd still contact an exterminator.

also, the size of those holes could mean they have nested (or whatever they do!) inside the siding. Usually the holes just from pecking (that I've seen, anyway) are smaller. 

Theres these shiny balloons with streamers that resemble faces. Supposedly scare woodpeckers.

annielou said:

Theres these shiny balloons with streamers that resemble faces. Supposedly scare woodpeckers.

But you'd still be left with the insects that they were after in the first place...

I think the small round hole looks more like mouse work. We once had a squirrel problem and they made huge holes at an entry point and way on the other side of the house an exit point. They won't get boxed in. When they enter a house they are looking for shelter to stash food and to nest.

It's probably woodpeckers and they do stay around over our winters   so I suppose they need shelter.

Hang a suet cake near by and do a stake out to see what's going in or out.

Thought it was mice or squirrels until we saw a woodpecker at the side of the house making a fourth hole. Just want to get it to go somewhere else. Any thoughts?

Find out what is attracting the woodpecker.  Address the root cause and the woodpecker should move on.

Oh for pete sake.  The woodpeckers are seeking out insects in the siding.  I don't know if it is legal anymore but in the past we would power wash the area with a light solution of insecticide to eliminate the insects and the birds.  The second possibility is that is males marking their territory.   It looks pretty stupid but 

place a couple of pinwheels  around the area.  They should be bright and shiny which will cause them to act as scarecrows,  frightening away the birds.  This sometimes works in either case,  insects or male marking.

Pest control is at best an inexact science but there is little we have not experienced.

I have some reflective tape/steamers that I bought to deter a woodpecker from making holes in our tree. You're welcome to the remainder of the roll. PM me if you want to try it.

It is the Predator Guard tape. 

Thank you. I've picked up something similar. I will let you know how it goes.

I don't understand why you don't get in a pest control expert. It's not the woodpeckers,it's what they are eating. Jerry Buckingham knows what he is doing and is inexpensive.

I agree that Jerry is very reasonable, and worth every cent.  However, just a woodpecker drilling holes in the OP's siding doesn't necessarily mean that insects are present.  We had a woodpecker that just took a liking to our house.  Once we put up tape and repaired the hole, the woodpecker moved on.  I think if insects were present, it would have continued to drill holes.