The Importance Of A Professional With Fleas
Do I Have Mice or Rats?
Are Squirrels In The Loft A Problem?
When most people think of squirrels, the initial thoughts that spring to mind are how cute they are with their big eyes and bushy tails. Still, for many reasons, squirrels can be an awful pest to put up with.
Many people don’t know that grey squirrels were brought into the UK from America to make the place look more picturesque. Still, due to their prolific breeding habits and destructive behaviour, it is now illegal to re-release them into the wild if you were to catch them alive.
Not only are these pests destructive to our properties, but they are also known for their ability to kill trees by stripping their bark, therefore damaging wildlife habitats.
The other common squirrel in the UK is the red squirrel native to the UK. Unfortunately, they are also affected by the overpopulation of the grey squirrel, so much so that they are now registered as an endangered species. In addition, grey squirrels carry a disease called squirrel pox which doesn’t affect them, but if passed on to a red squirrel, it is deadly.
Why Are There Squirrels In My Attic?
Like many household pests, squirrels are looking for three things: food, shelter and a cosy place to build their nests.
As previously mentioned, squirrels are prolific breeders, with one female being able to produce two litters of up to 7 per year. So, of course, they need somewhere warm and sheltered from prey to rear their young. This is where your attic comes in handy.
Unfortunately, if you are a keen gardener, you’re also at risk of an invasion of squirrels. Squirrels love to eat seeds, nuts, berries and vegetables, and they will take as many as they can and store them away for a winter feast.
Why Are They a Problem?
As mentioned above, squirrels are destroyed due to their ability to gnaw through many materials, this includes walls, ceilings, wooden beams, insulation and even electrical wire and piping. This can be dangerous as it can cause electrical fires, gas leaks or water leaks. The longer you leave squirrels, the more extensive the damage to your property will become.
Squirrels don’t only cause damage by chewing holes through everything. They will also use your home as a toilet. If they are not dealt with quickly, the odour of their urine and faeces can permeate your entire living space.
You also risk a squirrel getting stuck in a cavity around your home. If this happens and the body starts to decay, this can also cause an awful smell throughout your property.
Although squirrel pox is not harmful to humans, squirrels can spread diseases, the most common being salmonella in their faeces.
Treatment methods
You are more at risk of having an infestation of squirrels if there is easy access to them. The first prevention method is regularly checking your property for gaps or cracks where a squirrel could gain entry and filling them with a sturdy material such as metal mesh mixed with filler or chicken wire. This is difficult for the squirrels to gnaw through.
Secondly, ensure that any food waste is disposed of correctly, as although they enjoy seeds, nuts and berries, they are not picky if they don’t have these to hand.
Suppose you have an issue with squirrels in your home. In that case, it is always recommended to call a pest controller who can handle the situation legally and humanely. Unfortunately, there are several laws for controlling a squirrel infestation, and no products are on the market for public use.
As mentioned previously, if a squirrel is caught and is still alive, it would be against the law to release it back into the wild. Pest controllers have access to poisons not for public sale and are also trained to humanely and legally dispatch these pests.
If you have a squirrel in your home or suspect a squirrel, don't hesitate to contact us today. Calling an expert who will handle the situation legally and humanely is important.