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Squirrels

Grey Squirrels are not native to Britain. They are a North American animal which was deliberately introduced in 1876, and have spread throughout most of the UK. Today, the introduction of new, wild, species is prohibited by environmental laws, but back in the 19th century, no one had any concern for the long term implications of bringing what is, in effect, a pest, into our countryside.

Grey Squirrels can be very pretty and charming when we see them running around woodland and parks. Unfortunately they do a lot of damage.

they damage trees by stripping off the bark they take fruit from the garden, and raid bird tables for nuts Most of the time we tolerate this damage, for the pleasure of seeing squirrels around the garden. However, when they get into the loft of a house they do a great deal of damage indeed.

Squirrels are incredible acrobats, and are able to go up the vertical outside wall of a house by holding on to the pebbledash or to the tiny gaps between bricks and mortar. Once they reach the eaves, they can find their way in though holes left for overflow pipes or loose slates. Squirrels are not normally dangerous, but a wild one trapped in a loft can give quite a severe bite if it is picked up.

Because squirrels are regarded as vermin, it is perfectly legal for householders to get rid of them. There are very strict laws about how this can be done - mostly to protect other wildlife from accidental harm. Traps must be of a specific type and size. Poison can also be used, but there are legal restrictions on the type of material and how the baits are laid, and it is not available in shops for purchase by the general public. The job is best left to a professional pest control technician who has access to the proper materials and who has been trained to use them. Please note however that if you ask us to treat an infestation, we have to kill the squirrels - it is illegal for us to remove them and release them alive in another area.