Accolade Elm with substantial woodpecker drilling. Is this a sign of infestation?

[PhilaAdam]

About 11 years ago, I planted an Accolade elm as a bare root tree. It has grown rapidly and is now over 40 feet tall. This spring, I noticed substantial woodpecker drilling all along its trunk. Is this a sign of an infestation, and if so, does it warrant action? Besides the woodpecker holes, what else should I look for? In recent years, I have noticed that by summertime its leaves are full of holes, although the leaf damage has never been bad enough to cause foliar loss.

I have a stand of very mature hemlocks that I have treated every 3 - 5 years with imidacloprid drenches when the adelgid gets too troublesome, but I'm also aware of the environmental harms of neonics so I want to use them judiciously. All this is to say is that I'm capable of treating the elm if it's infested, but don't want to do that unless there's evidence an infestation is endangering its health.

Any recommendations?

 

[Raintree]

Sapsucker injury, birds are after the sap in the spring and the insects the sap attracts.
They are protected, some have tried plastic snakes and owls.

 

[PhilaAdam]

Didn't realize it's from a sapsucker. Thanks, Raintree.

Could this present a danger to the health of the tree?

 

[TheJollyLogger]

It should be ok. Little rotating orbs or spinners seem to spook them off as well.

 

[Raintree]

Heavy activity can result in girdling.

 

[TheJollyLogger]

Well, considering the location it was planted, it's not like it has much of a future anyway.

 

[PhilaAdam]

Well, considering the location it was planted, it's not like it has much of a future anyway.

Yes, it's a street tree. What is the problem with that location?

 

[PhilaAdam]

It should be ok. Little rotating orbs or spinners seem to spook them off as well.

I will try the spinners and fake snakes, putting them as far up as my decrepit body can manage to climb.

 

[TheJollyLogger]

Yes, it's a street tree. What is the problem with that location?

Way too close to the street for an elm. It's going to start cracking asphalt and concrete.

 

[TNTreeHugger]

Sapsucker injury, birds are after the sap in the spring and the insects the sap attracts.
They are protected, some have tried plastic snakes and owls.

Good to know, I have a pecan with the exact same holes.

 

[PhilaAdam]

The sidewalk adjacent the elm is already cracked from the century-old mature sycamore it replaced. I don't imagine the elm will present more of an issue.