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Squirrels are often thought of as cute, innocent-looking animals, and it’s more than likely that you’ve noticed one or two of these squirrels in and around your garden. They live in forests, trees, gardens and lofts.
Wait, lofts?
Yes, many people are unaware of the damage these small mammals can cause, and when they are in your loft, they can cause expensive damage to wires, cables, electrical pipes, wood and ultimately be a pain in the backside. Often confused with rodents such as rats and mice due to the noise they make in the morning and evening. For this reason, squirrels are classified as a significant pest within London and the United Kingdom and the diseases they carry and the damage they cause has resulted in pest control companies offering a professional service to deal with them. So, how do you get rid of them from your home?
Squirrels cause significant damage
Squirrels, with their bushy tails, have often been labelled as friendly animals. However, grey squirrels have caused significant problems to the native red squirrel population in the UK and have nearly wiped them out completely. To compare the population sizes, grey squirrels have around 2.5 million compared to the reds declining 140 thousand, and the grey squirrels are entirely to blame. Grey squirrels are not native to the UK, so when they arrived from North America in the 1800s, they brought a disease that the red squirrels could not survive. Ultimately, grey squirrels can be dangerous and bite humans if they try to enter their territory. For example, a loft or attic that they have decided to call home.
How has the squirrel gotten in my attic?
Surprising for many, grey squirrels climb high into peoples attics and lofts to build their homes. The warmth and shelter that a house provides make it highly suitable for them to live. If you have trees or shrubbery surrounding your home, it’s fair to say that squirrels have probably entered using this method, and they will stay there until a professional squirrel exterminator company moves on them. If you’re unsure if squirrels have infested your home, it’s essential to contact a professional as they can often be confused for rats and mice due to the droppings, scratching noises and damage they cause in pursuit to build their home. A professional will advise you on the best approach but usually, proofing the area tends to be the best long-term effects to stop them from ever returning; this involves blocking all holes with squirrel proofing materials such as mesh and metal plates.
Squirrel extermination and control
There are some fantastic blogs on the internet to show you how to prevent squirrels from causing problems. For example, the BPCA in the UK lists everything you need to know about squirrel prevention and removal. Some simple tips to remember is to cut back on any way they can scale into your roof, including trees, guttering and pipes. Furthermore, squirrels love to eat nuts, so make sure your garden is completely free of all nuts and fruits. This will stop them from being attracted to your garden in the first place.
A range of DIY solutions may help if a squirrel ignores your attempts and gets into your loft. However, it is illegal to catch and release a grey squirrel back into the wild in the UK, and they must be disposed of humanely. For this reason, we recommend contact and leaving it to a professional squirrel pest control company.
So before you buy that excellent bird feeder or get some bushes that contain fruit and nuts, you may think twice. Squirrels are no laughing matter if they get inside your home, and their aggressive nature can make them a nightmare for an inexperienced person in pest control to control. Any questions? Feel free to ask our team, and we can point you in the right direction for squirrel control articles and advice.
