Knowledgebase

What to do about Sap suckers #923799

Asked January 20, 2026, 6:04 PM EST

My neighbor showed me where a sap sucker had started "working" on my 35+year old apple trees. I looked up what to do and wrapping in burlap was recommended. I started but I wondered if this is the right time of year to do that and is there an easier way to discourage (end) them from harming my trees? I do not want to harm the birds but they picked my favorite branches-Bramley and the granny smith tree. Any help would be appreciated Molly

Clackamas County Oregon

Expert Response

The sapsuckers are drilling both for the sap, but also can come back and eat insects attracted to/trapped in the sap that oozes. Wrapping is best done in early spring and again in fall (Sept/October) to prevent further use during high-use seasons. Because additional heat damage or potential disease & pest issues are a concern with year-round wraps, you might need to either completely remove wraps over summer, or switch to a lighter mesh while it's hot out, particularly. Burlap is a good option - some use 1/4" hardware cloth or plastic mesh. 
Hanging mylar "scare" tape, or CDs, or similar shiny objects that are hung so they undulate or move unpredictably can help deter birds - until they habituate/learn to ignore them. 
Hanging suet cages away from the favorite tree(s) is a debated tactic - Some managers swear it helps, others swear it makes the problem worse. It's something to consider, and/but sapsuckers and other woodpeckers are somewhat infamous for identifying "favorite" trees or buildings...
Finally, ODFW has a brief on the woodpeckers - the red-naped sapsucker is nearly at the bottom https://myodfw.com/wildlife-viewing/species/kingfishers-and-woodpeckers
And - all native bird species are protected, so our solutions need to be non-lethal. 
Dr. Dana Sanchez Replied January 21, 2026, 11:34 AM EST

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