Why squirrels are a pest
Grey squirrels were introduced from North America in the late 1800s and early 1900s and have spread across Britain, pushing the native red squirrel out of most of the country. Once a squirrel gets into a loft it is very determined to stay. Rats tend to end up in lofts by accident; squirrels choose them, and will work hard to get back in.
The damage they do
Squirrels build nests in warm, secure places such as lofts and chimneys. Like rats, their teeth never stop growing, so they gnaw on roof timbers, water pipes and electric cables. Chewed cables are a known cause of house fires. They also pull up insulation to make nests, which makes the home less energy efficient.
Signs of squirrels
- Scratching and scampering in the loft, mainly early morning and evening
- Chewed fascias, soffits or roof edges
- Insulation pulled into heaps
- Squirrels seen going in and out at roof level
How we deal with squirrels
We remove the squirrels using humane methods, then proof every entry point properly. Proofing has to be done thoroughly, because a squirrel will find and reopen any weak spot. Where we find damage, our maintenance team can repair fascias, soffits and roof edges.
Grey squirrels are a listed invasive species. It is illegal to release one back into the wild once it has been caught, so trapping must be done by someone who can deal with the squirrel humanely afterwards.
