Woods and forests provide for carbon sequestration and help fight global warming. The European Squirrel Initiative (ESI) point out that around 12% of England is covered by trees and this is set to rise.

Wreak havoc on historic and ancient woodlands.Damage orchards and gardens, destroying bulbs and corms, eating tree nuts and recently sown seeds.Raid birds’ nests to prey on eggs and fledglings (figures from the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust suggest fledgling rates reduced by 15% due to predation by grey squirrels).They strip bark at the base of trees which causes them to weaken and eventually to die. Grey squirrels cause damage to trees such as beech, oak and chestnut. In gardens and allotments, they can take fruit, raid nests of small birds and dig holes in lawns to bury food. Some people fear being attacked, however it’s very rare for a squirrel to actually attack! Grey squirrels often associate humans with food, meaning they sometime approach people. Their peak activity is activity is four-five hours before daybreak. Squirrels are most active before sunrise, especially in winter. People also report sleep issues due to the loud noises they make at night while they’re scuttling around your attic. Contaminate cold water tanks and attic space with urine and droppings.Grey squirrels can cause damage when they enter roof spaces of houses and buildings. Squirrel damage in your home, business and to your health The impact on our native wildlife, in particular the red squirrel.Their potential to damage to your home, business and health.There are three reasons we control grey squirrels: This is where professional pest control comes in. That means that any person who catches a grey squirrel alive is legally obliged to humanely dispatch it.Īs their numbers have increased in the UK, so has the damage they cause. Here in Britain and Europe, is classed as an Invasive Alien Species (IAS) which is any animal that is not native to the UK.īecause grey squirrels are an invasive pest species, it is against the law to re-release a grey squirrel if it’s been caught alive, per the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and Invasive Alien Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order 2019. The grey squirrel is recognised as being in the top worst 100 invasive pest species in the world by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The dangers: why we control grey squirrelsĮven though the grey squirrel is widely appreciated for its grace and ‘cuteness’ by much of the UK – the pest management industry knows that there are times when the lethal control of grey squirrels is necessary. Finding a pest controller to get rid of squirrels.Preventing squirrels getting into your property.

Squirrel biology, behaviour and habitat.

The native red squirrel vs invasive grey squirrels.

Squirrel damage in your home, business and to your health.

The dangers: why we control grey squirrels.

Introductions continued until the 1930’s, when the damage they can cause was finally acknowledged and it became illegal to release grey squirrels into the wild. They were first introduced to the UK from North America in the 1870’s, as ornamental additions to high-class estates and country homes. Grey squirrels Sciurus carolinensis are invasive pests, not native to the UK.

Do squirrels hibernate in uk