Since being introduced to Britain, the Grey Squirrel has largely displaced the native Red Squirrel. Although enjoyable to look at in forests, they have become somewhat of a nuisance in urban and domestic areas stealing nuts, seeds and fruits left in gardens to attract wild birds and can cause chaos if left to roam around your loft space.
Gnawing squirrels risk damage to your property, become aggressive if you try to remove them and require professional squirrel pest control. Loud scratching and gnawing noises coming from the garage or roof can alert many people to the presence of squirrels in their property as well as increased sightings in gardens and around your home. Other signs include seeing squirrel droppings, damaged garden plants, bark gnawed away on young, nearby trees, small divots in your lawn (used to hide nuts) and nests in nearby trees.
Once inside your business or home, squirrels build their nests by chewing through anything they can find such as linens, fabrics, insulation, and paper products - anything stored in your loft could be damaged or destroyed. Gnawing through cables can cause blackouts, and risk electrical fires and chewing through beams could even risk the structural integrity of your property.
Squirrel pest control professionals can provide the best advice for discouraging squirrels from your home or business, but their are few things you can consider. Reduce access, such as trimming back any tree branches that hang near your property as these provide squirrels with a bridge to jump onto your roof. Squirrels can use other forms of bridges such as washing lines and cables so consider relocating these if possible. Seal or fill any gaps into your property, squirrels are able to fit through holes as small as 2 inches wide.
Removing attractive food sources is another way to deter them and prevent the need for squirrel pest control. Easily accessible food such as seeds and fat balls intended for birds can be replaced with squirrel proof bird feeders.
Devices such as motion-activated lights, noise or ultrasonic sound could be used which can repel other unwanted visitors such as cats or rats as well. Bear in mind that these methods could affect your pets, so discuss with squirrel pest control professionals in this instance.
Red squirrels, which can actually come in a range of colours including chestnut, light brown and even black, are a protected species and it is illegal to destroy or damage a shelter being used by a red squirrel. Grey squirrels can be trapped if necessary, but if a grey squirrel is caught, it is illegal to release them back into the wild and must be humanely destroyed.
We would recommend getting in touch with AJ Pest Control before attempting to deal with squirrel pest control because of the laws surrounding their treatment.