Squirrel removal and loft proofing

What squirrel removal involves

Squirrel removal deals with grey squirrels that have got into a loft, roof space, wall cavity or shed, or that are damaging a roofline. A firm does four things: it finds how the animals are getting in, traps them, clears the space and proofs the entry points so no more can enter.

Proofing is the part that stops the problem returning. Trapping alone rarely does, because other squirrels will use the same gap. A good firm will cover both.

Most calls come from a loft, so the work centres on the roof space. A garden visitor is a different matter, covered under the garden heading below. You do not need to be sure what is making the noise before you call. A survey identifies the animal first, and a good firm will tell you if it is a rat, a bat or something else. If it is not a squirrel, the plan changes.

What happens, step by step

1. Survey. The technician checks the roofline, soffits, fascias and loft for entry holes, droppings and nests. Holes can be as small as 5 cm. 2. Trapping. Cage traps or approved spring traps are set in the loft or at the entry point. 3. Return visits. The technician checks the traps and removes any catch. Expect several short visits over one to three weeks. 4. Clearance. The loft is cleared of nests and droppings, and nesting material such as torn insulation may need replacing. 5. Proofing. Entry points are sealed with mesh. One guide suggests 16-gauge galvanised mesh. Overhanging branches may be trimmed.

The job is usually treated as resolved when there is no new activity for about 48 hours after proofing. Some firms check this with a paper-block test.

Grey squirrels cannot be released

This is the rule that catches people out. The Invasive Alien Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order 2019 lists the grey squirrel, and Article 3(2) makes it an offence to release one, or allow it to escape, into the wild. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 section 14(1) also bars releasing species on its Schedule 9.

So "catch and release" and "rehoming" a grey squirrel are offences. The lawful options for a trapped grey are humane killing or keeping it captive under licence. A responsible firm will say how it deals with caught animals. Ask before you book.

Red squirrels are protected. Be sure of the species before any trap is set.

Check for young and for bats

Grey squirrels breed twice a year, in February to March and June to July, and the young depend on their mother for 7 to 10 weeks. Trapping the mother in a breeding period can leave kits stuck in the loft, so a good firm checks for them first. Tell the firm if you have heard squeaking.

A thump in the loft at night could also be a rat, a dormouse or a bat. Bats are legally protected. If you think you have bats, stop and take advice before anything is trapped or sealed.

How long it takes and what you must do

Plan on a survey and several short return visits over one to three weeks. Before the first visit:

• Clear access to the loft hatch.
• Tell the firm about any kits, bats or recent noise.
• Agree who repairs fascias, soffits and insulation. Roofline sealing and insulation replacement are often extra.

Ask for proofing guarantees in writing. The guides we checked did not state a standard guarantee.

If you rent, tell your landlord before booking. A roof entry point is usually their repair, and they may arrange the firm.

Who to hire

Look for firms that belong to BPCA or NPTA, whose technicians hold qualifications such as RSPH Level 2 or are on the BASIS PROMPT register. These are trade associations and qualifications with codes and audits. None is a licence. Ask three questions:

• How do you deal with caught greys, and do you release any?
• Do you check for bats and nesting kits first?
• What proofing and what guarantee is included?

Councils and landlords

Some councils, such as Solihull and Hounslow, will treat squirrels, but most do not, so expect to hire a private firm. Our council pest control guide shows what your own council offers.

The Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 covers rats and mice only. Squirrels in a roof are a structural entry problem and a pest exposure under the housing hazard for domestic hygiene, so usually the landlord's to fix. For prices see what squirrel removal costs.

Squirrels in the loft

Scratching, scampering and thumping in the loft by day suggests squirrels. Rats are noisier at night. A drey, a large untidy nest often made of torn insulation, confirms it. Gnawed wood and wiring, and cylindrical dark droppings 8 to 12 mm long, are other signs.

Do not block the hole until you know the loft is empty, in case an animal or kits are trapped inside. If wiring has been gnawed, have it checked and call a professional. A firm will survey, trap, clear the loft and proof the entry. See how to identify squirrels. Check for bats before work starts.

Squirrels in the attic or roof space

An attic or roof space is a warm, sheltered spot, and lofts are most attractive from autumn as squirrels look for shelter. Entry points include gaps under tiles, soffits, fascias and vents.

Do not seal the entry before the animals are out, because it can trap them inside. A professional traps first, checks for kits, and then proofs. Expect the trapping stage to take one to three weeks. You may also need to replace insulation that nests have torn up. If you rent, report it to your landlord, because a roof entry point is usually their repair.

Squirrels in the garden

A grey squirrel in the garden is not, by itself, a pest control job. They dig up bulbs and raid bird feeders, and a visitor is not an infestation. The law applies here too: you cannot trap a grey and release it elsewhere.

To reduce visits, use squirrel-resistant feeders, and tidy spilt food. Trim branches that let squirrels reach the roof, since an animal that reaches the roof may find a way into the loft. If damage is serious or the animals are entering the house, call a firm. For a lone visitor, there is nothing to do.