The seaside town of Rockport in Massachusetts is being overwhelmed by vehicular vandalism, with at least two dozen cars attacked since March. The suspect is described as wearing black and white and sporting a red hat. Oh, and he’s about two feathery feet tall. When woodpeckers are in heat, the call of the wild can lead to hostile and sometimes destructive behavior. The woodpecker in Rockport has decided his M.O. will be to destroy the sideview mirrors on dozens of cars. The bird is about the size of a crow, making it one of the largest forest birds in North America. The emboldened woodpecker has been attacking anything reflective, with one resident reporting that he was inside his truck when the woodpecker cracked the winshield. Ron Magill, Communications Director of Zoo Miami, says when woodpeckers see a reflection of themselves, they think it’s another woodpecker challenging its territory. His advice to Rockport residents is to cover their mirrors with bags or scarves, anything to keep the feathered menace from challenging what he perceives to be a rival.
