Squirrels in the loft? Don’t wait
Grey squirrels chew through roof timbers, insulation, pipework and electrical cables, which can create a real fire risk. They’re noisy, they breed in roof spaces, and once they’ve found a way in they’ll keep coming back. The sooner they’re dealt with, the less damage they do.
Signs of squirrels
- Scratching, scurrying or thumping in the loft, mostly early morning and late afternoon (rats and mice are usually noisier at night)
- Chewed timbers, cables, pipe lagging or stored belongings
- Shredded insulation used as nesting material
- Gaps or chewed holes around eaves, fascias, soffits and roof tiles
- Squirrels seen running along roofs, gutters or overhanging trees
Squirrel damage we’ve found
Squirrels can climb almost any wall
People are often surprised at how squirrels get into a loft. This clip from one of our cameras shows a grey squirrel climbing straight up a rough-cast wall. Squirrels have a small thumb on each front paw and sharp, curved claws, so a rough surface gives them grip all the way to the roofline. That’s why we check gaps at the eaves, fascias and roof, not just near trees.
The damage grey squirrels do to the environment
Grey squirrels were brought to Britain from North America and are now classed as an invasive non-native species. As well as the damage they do to homes, they cause real harm to trees and wildlife:
- Spreading squirrelpox to red squirrels – grey squirrels carry the squirrelpox virus. It rarely harms the greys, but it is usually fatal to our native red squirrels. Along with competition for food, it is one of the main reasons red squirrels have disappeared from most of the UK, and Scotland is now home to most of the red squirrels left in Britain.
- Stripping tree bark – grey squirrels strip the bark from young trees such as beech, sycamore and oak, mostly from late spring to mid-summer. It can deform trees or kill them outright, and is one of the biggest threats to new woodland in the UK.
- Raiding birds’ nests – they take eggs and chicks from nests, which hits garden and woodland birds during the breeding season.
- Out-competing native wildlife – they eat the nuts, seeds and fruit that native animals and birds rely on.
- Damage in gardens – dug-up bulbs, stripped fruit and vegetables, raided bird feeders and chewed sheds, bins and garden furniture.
That’s why the law doesn’t allow a trapped grey squirrel to be released back into the wild, and why dealing with them properly matters for your property and for local wildlife.
Remote monitoring cameras
Before we choose a treatment, we often set up remote monitoring cameras in the loft or around the roofline. They show us exactly what’s getting in, where, and how often – so we can confirm it’s grey squirrels (not rats or birds), find every entry point, and prove the problem has gone once the job is done.
Our squirrel control options
We’ll recommend the right approach for your property, the time of year and the size of the problem:
- One-way squirrel flaps – an exclusion door fitted over the main entry point. Squirrels can leave the roof space but can’t get back in. Once activity stops, we seal the gap permanently. We only use flaps when there are no young in the nest, so they’re never trapped inside.
- Lethal squirrel control – where exclusion isn’t practical, or squirrels keep returning, our trained technicians use humane, legal trapping to remove grey squirrels quickly. By law, a captured grey squirrel can’t be released back into the wild, so it has to be humanely dispatched.
- Proofing – we find and seal every entry point with durable, squirrel-proof materials, and advise on cutting back overhanging branches.
- Follow-up – we check the cameras and the loft to make sure the problem is fully resolved.
Squirrel control in Edinburgh
Grey squirrels are common right across Edinburgh, especially in leafy areas near parks, woodland and large gardens – Morningside, Corstorphine, Colinton, Cramond and around the Braid Hills. Period homes with large roof spaces are a favourite. See pest control in Edinburgh.
Squirrel control in Fife
In Fife we deal with grey squirrels in lofts, outbuildings and garden sheds, from Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy to rural homes near woodland. See pest control in Fife.
Squirrel Control: frequently asked questions
How do I know if it's squirrels or rats in my loft?
Squirrels are most active in the early morning and late afternoon, while rats and mice are usually noisier at night. We can set up remote monitoring cameras to confirm exactly what's there before any treatment.
What is a one-way squirrel flap?
It's an exclusion door fitted over the squirrels' entry point. They can get out but can't get back in. Once they've gone, we seal the gap for good.
Do you offer lethal squirrel control?
Yes. Where it's the right option, our trained technicians use humane, legal trapping to remove grey squirrels. By law, grey squirrels that are caught can't be released back into the wild.
When is the best time to deal with squirrels?
As soon as you notice them – but if there are young in the nest, we'll plan the timing and method so they aren't left trapped inside.
Why are grey squirrels a problem?
Grey squirrels are an invasive non-native species. As well as chewing roof timbers, insulation and cables, they strip bark from young trees, take eggs and chicks from birds’ nests and out-compete native wildlife for food. They also carry squirrelpox, a virus that rarely harms greys but is usually fatal to native red squirrels.
