Although you might think they look cute, grey squirrels are invasive pests, not native to the UK. For some people, the antics of grey squirrels are a source of entertainment, but for others squirrels are a nuisance, due to their habit of digging up bulbs and raiding bird feeders.
In fact, the presence of grey squirrels means that the red squirrel population is under threat of local extinction.
When the grey squirrel arrives in a red squirrel area, the red squirrel population usually disappears within 15 years. The grey squirrel outcompetes the red for food, space and carries a disease, called the squirrel pox virus.
This disease kills the red squirrel but has no known lasting effect on the greys. In circumstances where the presence of squirrel pox is confirmed, the extinction rate of red squirrels can be 20 to 25 times faster than that in pox free areas.
The primary issue is the spread of the grey squirrel because the greys can thrive in conditions that would be difficult for red squirrels. So, where habitat is lost to development or agriculture the greys can continue to live in parks, gardens, and hedgerows.
There are four reasons we control grey squirrels:
- Their potential to damage to your home. Grey squirrels gnaw on woodwork and strip insulation from electrical wires.
- The destruction of UK forests, due to bark stripping of tree trunks.
- The decline of the red squirrel due to the grey squirrel carrying “squirrel pox” virus which only affects the red squirrel.
- The taking of eggs and young chicks which can be devastating for ground-nesting bird populations.
Common Signs of Squirrels in Your Home or Business
These are the seven signs easiest signs to spot when looking for evidence of squirrels in your home or business premises.
- Scratching and rustling sound from your loft or a wall cavity
- Holes in vents or damage to your insulation foam.
- Spotting droppings in the loft – although you might need a pest controller to identify these droppings are in actual fact from squirrels.
- Smell of urine in the loft area might indicate the infestation has been going on some time
- Spotting lots of other squirrels around your property, particularly near your roof or on high fences
- Bark being stripped from trees in your garden
- Fruit and nuts being stolen from bird feeders, or the feeders being disturbed/knocked over
Controlling Grey Squirrels
Unlike their red counterparts, grey squirrels have limited legal protection and can be controlled all year round by a variety of methods including shooting and trapping.
It is an offence under section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) to introduce and release grey squirrels into the wild. Under the provisions of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 any person responsible for a squirrel trap would only be responsible for any animal caught by it, not its offspring still in the wild. Under the act, it is an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to a kept animal (this includes live caught animals).
There are a few ways to control grey squirrels. These include shooting and trapping. While shooting of grey squirrels can be a very effective method of control, this method is more suited to a rural environment and would certainly not be recommended in an urban area.
In urban and built-up areas, trapping is the most effective way to control grey squirrels.
Go-Pest will lay safe and effective traps in the areas where grey squirrels have been seen/heard alongside bait to lure the squirrel into the trap. We will then make a second visit to clear the traps and dispose of the carcasses and proof any holes to prevent squirrels from re-entering your home.
Looking for grey squirrel pest control services in London? Contact Go-Pest Environmental Services today for expert pest control in London and the surrounding counties
