Squirrel facts
- Squirrels are members of the Sciuridae family.
- There are 2 species of squirrel in the UK.
- Red squirrels – are native to the UK, and are protected; it is estimated that only 140,000 red squirrels are left in Britain; they are not considered a pest species.
- Grey squirrels – were introduced to the UK from America in 1876, and have since become a population of 2.5 million; grey squirrels are thought to out-compete red squirrels.
- Grey squirrels can be considered a pest when they:
- pose a threat to endangered red squirrel populations and other wildlife
- cause damage to woodland, property or food.
- Grey squirrels strip bark from trees to access the sap- filled layers; if the tree is ‘ringed’, it will die.
- They also eat song bird eggs, fledglings, bulbs and seeds.
- Squirrels live in nest-like structures called ‘drays’.
- If they choose to nest in your home, grey squirrels can cause huge amounts of damage.
- They can ball-up whole lofts of insulation and, being rodents, will gnaw on beams and other structures to keep their teeth razor sharp.
What you can do
- Squirrels are attracted by food.
- Clear up fallen fruit from trees.
- Keep bird feeders secure.
- Regularly maintain facias and soffit boards.
- Thatched rooves in particular should be regularly checked for potential entry points.
If you have a squirrel problem, we will…
- Identify where and how squirrels are causing you a problem.
- This will determine the course of action, which may include a combination of:
- trapping and/or baiting
- population control
- dray removal.
- If relevant, we will offer proofing to help prevent squirrels re-entering your property.