Squirrel Control in South London & Essex Overview Grey squirrels are rodents and although they are called ‘grey’ squirrels, their coats may be brown in summertime and have they white bellies. Measuring 18 inches long, with a 9-inch tail, they are in the top worst 100 invasive pest species in the world by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Here in the UK they are classed as an Invasive Alien Species (IAS) which is any animal that is not native to the UK.
Health Risks They may carry fleas and other parasites. Damage to Property and Reputation They can cause serious damage to your property as they strip insulation from electrical wiring, tear loft insulation to make nests with and often drown in cold water tanks, which we then use. Grey squirrels damage gardens by burying or digging up nuts and will also chew tree bark. The destruction of UK forests is largely down to them and they have a detrimental impact on the native red squirrel.
How We Can Help You Help Yourself Quick Tips Trim tree branches that may act as an access point to your roof.
Do not stack anything against the side of your house to help climbing.
Seal all entry points where possible.
Traps are available online, however not every trap is authorised to control squirrels. Any squirrel you caught alive would have to be killed, as per the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (Spring trap approval order) and traps should never be used without adequate training. Any squirrel that you kill needs to be done humanely and this can be very distressing.
Some unprofessional attempts at squirrel control have resulted in squirrels being drowned which is against the law and can result in prosecution. Did You Know? It is against the law to re-release a grey squirrel if it has been caught alive, per the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and Invasive Alien Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order 2019. This means that if you catch a grey squirrel alive YOU are legally obliged to humanely dispatch it.
