Professional Grey squirrel Control in Gloucester and Cheltenham
(Sciurus carolinensis)
Gloucester and Cheltenham Pest Control
Introduction of the Grey Squirrel
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.
Finding Evidence of Grey Squirrels
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 pungnant urine smell. Like rats and mice, squirrels can often be heard scurrying around in the loft space when you have an infestation. Once an infestation has been identified, it is important to put into place professional squirrel control.
Grey Squirrel Damage
Grey squirrels can cause thousands of pounds of damage if they are able to gain access into a property. Which is why it is important to put into place professional squirrel control as soon as an infestation has been detected. Like rats and mice, squirrels will often gnaw themselves into people’s properties, by gnawing away at anything that is not metal.
Squirrels will often gnaw their way through the fascia boards of a property’s roof in order to access a property’s loft space, where they will create dreys (nests) using the loft insulation. Like other rodents such as rats and mice, 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.
Grey 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.
Humane Grey Squirrel Control
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.
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. However, being an invasive species has meant that they have wreaked havoc in the UK’s natural habitat, causing untold damage to the woodlands, people’s properties and the impact that they have had on other native species such as their smaller 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 Vincent 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 build. If you need professional squirrel control, contact PestEx Professional Pest Control today.
FAQs About PestEx's Squirrel Control Services
PestEx provide humane squirrel control services in Gloucester, Cheltenham and the surrounding areas. If you would like to know more on what our control services involves, please visit our ‘Frequently Asked Questions‘ page for more information.