SQUIRRELS

Squirrels are actually rodents and in the UK, there are two main species. Despite its name, the colouring of the native red squirrel includes chestnut, light brown and even black! With big fluffy tails, distinctive ear tufts and smaller frames, red squirrels are very different from their grey-coloured cousins. Grey squirrels are an invasive species, have light grey fur with touches of russet-brown, tuftless ears and are larger than their red counterparts. Both have paws complete with claws and a pair of sharp incisor teeth.

If a squirrel is brave enough to nest inside your home, it’s usually brave enough to make an appearance, even if humans are present, making a squirrel infestation in your home easy to spot. Often, the first signs of squirrels is hearing scuttling noises in the loft and you might see squirrels coming in and out of your attic or basement, as they leave their nest frequently to feed. You may spy gnaw marks in woodwork, see squirrel droppings in and around your property and detect the distinct smell of urine.

Red squirrels are a protected species under the Wildlife and Conservation Act, 1981, making it a criminal offence to trap, harm or kill them. Grey squirrels, however, are considered pests due to their damaging impact on the UK’s native wildlife, especially the red squirrel.

DIY squirrel control is not recommended as any trapped grey squirrels must, by law, not be released back into the wild and must be killed humanely. This can be very distressing, and is why getting rid of grey squirrels is best tackled by a pest professional. A pest controller has the experience, expertise and skills to assess and advise the best course of action, which will usually be proofing in the first instance, with lethal control of grey squirrels a last resort.