Grey squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
Professional Squirrel Control in Gloucester and Cheltenham
Although seemingly cute and harmless, the grey squirrel is in fact disease-ridden and incredibly detrimental to the UK’s natural habitat. Originally brought over to the UK from their native North America in 1876, they were introduced by the Victorians, who at the time had no idea of their destructive behaviour and how they would later endanger the UK’s beloved native red squirrel by outcompeting it and spreading the deadly parapox virus to the native red squirrels, which the grey squirrel does not succumb to.
Grey squirrels can cause thousands of pounds of damage if they are able to access a property. Like rats, squirrels will often gnaw themselves into people’s property by chewing away at anything that is not metal. Squirrels will often chew their way through the fascia boards in order to access a property’s loft space, where they will create dreys (nests) using the loft insulation. Like other rodents, squirrels have incisor teeth that continuously grow, which encourages squirrels to gnaw away at whatever they take their fancy to.
Once a squirrel occupies a property’s loft space, there is a risk the rodent may start gnawing away at electrical cabling and water pipes. This can prove both dangerous and be extremely costly. The structural roof’s integrity may also be compromised if the squirrel gnaws away at the roof trusses, which are an essential supporting part of the roof. Evidence of a squirrel infestation will be droppings found which look similar to rat droppings, albeit rounder on the ends. Insulation may also be found to be displaced where the squirrel has been, or is in the process of creating a drey. Squirrels also leave behind a strong urine smell. Like rats and mice, squirrels can often be heard scurrying around in the loft space.
Controlling squirrels is by lethal methods only, as it is illegal to live trap and release them. The RSPCA, RSPB, Woodland Trust and Wildlife Trust are all legally obligated to destroy this invasive species. There is currently estimated to be around 3 million grey squirrels in the UK, with the red squirrels number at one point being reduced to a mere 65,000, causing concern that they may be driven to extinction here in the UK. However in recent years there has been a resurgence of the reds thanks to conservation efforts and a national cull.
Squirrels are known to raid bird feeders as their food source. They also raid song birds’ nests, predating on the songbird’s fledglings. The estimated cost of bark stripping caused by grey squirrels in England and Wales is estimated to be at least £37m a year in lost timber value. Grey squirrel meat has become very popular in some of the country’s top restaurants for its acquired taste. It’s often served in a rich red wine sauce, made from the liver, heart and kidneys.
Culling grey squirrels has been and continues to be a contentious issue, with many animal lovers believing that they should be allowed to integrate into the UK’s natural habitat. But being an invasive species has meant that they have wreaked havoc in this country, causing untold damage to the woodlands, people’s properties and the impact thay have had on other species such as their red cousins.
Between 2015 and 2017, 51 pine martens were captured in Scotland, in areas where there is a healthy pine marten population, under licence from Scottish Natural Heritage. These animals were translocated and released by The Vicent Wildlife Trust in forestry in mid-Wales. It is hoped that the pine marten will naturally bring grey squirrels numbers down, as pine marten predate on squirrels, but they have evolved with the reds, making greys an easier prey due to their feeding habits and bigger and heavier buil.
If you need humane squirrel control, contact PestEx Professional Pest Control today.