Plenty of household pest problems are worth a go yourself. A squirrel in a roof space is not really one of them, and the reasons are more specific than a pest company simply saying so.
Here is where the line actually falls.
Call straight away if
- Anything electrical is happening — flickering lights, a tripping circuit, a burning smell. Isolate that circuit and get an electrician as well
- You can hear it in daylight and it is heavy, which is the squirrel signature
- Something has already been sealed and the noise became more frantic afterwards
- There are young — higher-pitched noise, typically spring or late summer
- It has happened before at the same property
- An animal is loose inside the living space, in which case shut the door on it, open a window if you safely can, and call
What you can sensibly do yourself
- Note the times over two or three days
- Walk the outside in daylight and photograph the roof line at full zoom
- Look into the loft from the hatch with a torch
- Cut back branches, after the work rather than before
- Clear anything stacked against a wall that gives a route up
What is not worth attempting
- Sealing the opening. Wrong order, and it makes the damage worse
- Ladder work at roof height. Comfortably the most dangerous part of this whole subject
- Poison. It is not an appropriate response to squirrels, and an animal dying inaccessibly in a roof space is a problem of its own
- Trapping bought over the counter. See the legal position below
- Repellents and ultrasonic devices. They do not close an opening, which is the only thing that decides the outcome
The legal position, which surprises people
Grey squirrels are a non-native invasive species in Great Britain, and it is an offence to release one that has been caught or to allow it to escape into the wild. Catch-and-release — which is what most people assume the humane option is — is not lawfully available to anybody, professional or otherwise.
Anyone dealing with a squirrel therefore has to know what the law requires and what is expected in terms of animal welfare. That is not a reason to panic; it is a reason not to buy a trap and improvise.
What it costs, so the decision is a clear one
Squirrel control is £280 fixed cost, and proofing where the roof needs closing is £180. Fixed means fixed: a job that needs more than one visit does not cost more.
What to have ready when you call
- Where you are, and the type of property
- The times you have heard it, and which room it is above
- Whether it sounds heavy or light
- What you could see from the loft hatch
- Any photographs from outside
- Whether anything has already been sealed, trapped or treated
- Whether the loft is boarded, converted or full of storage
Call 01502 630 122. Most of the diagnosis can be done from that list before anybody arrives, which is why it is worth spending three days on it first.
Questions
Can I wait until spring?
It is the one thing not worth doing. Gnawing continues daily, the damage accumulates, and late winter is a breeding season.
What if I am a tenant?
Tell the landlord or agent. The fixed figure makes it straightforward to authorise, and all that is usually needed on the day is access to the hatch.
Do you cover commercial premises?
Yes, along with rented property and owner-occupied homes, on the same terms.
Squirrel Control Costs
Squirrel control is £280 fixed cost. Proofing work, where it is needed afterwards, is £180. Call 01502 630 122 and tell us what you have heard or seen.
To arrange squirrel control, call 01502 630 122, or read the squirrel control page.