A roof space is not a strange place for a squirrel to end up. It is an extremely good version of something they already look for.
Understanding what they are actually after explains the timing, the behaviour and why the same properties get it repeatedly.
What they are looking for in the wild
Grey squirrels build dreys — ball-shaped nests of twigs, leaves and stripped bark, wedged in a fork high in a tree. They also use tree cavities wherever they can find them, and a cavity is preferred: it is drier, warmer, more sheltered and much safer from predators and weather than a drey.
A loft is a cavity. It is dry, it is dark, it is above ground, it has a small defensible entrance, it is warm from the house below and it is generally filled with excellent nesting material. From a squirrel's point of view it is not a compromise; it is an upgrade.
Why autumn
Three things arrive at once from late August. The young from the summer breeding season disperse and need their own territory and shelter. Caching behaviour steps up as food becomes abundant and needs storing. And nights start to cool, which makes a heated building noticeably more attractive than a tree fork.
That is why most calls come between September and November, and why an autumn problem left alone tends to become a winter one — grey squirrels do not hibernate, so nothing about the cold moves them on.
The other push: late winter
There are two breeding seasons a year. Activity appearing in February or March is often a female looking for somewhere to have young, and a loft is close to ideal for that. This is when a single animal becomes several, and it is the reason closing a roof in autumn matters more than it looks.
Food in the garden is part of the picture. Bird feeders, windfall fruit, nuts and pet food outside all support a larger local population than the habitat alone would, and a well-fed population explores more.
The legal position
Grey squirrels are a non-native invasive species in Great Britain. It is an offence to release a grey squirrel that has been caught, or to allow one to escape into the wild. There is therefore no lawful catch-and-release option available to anybody, professional or otherwise.
That is worth stating plainly, because catch-and-release is what most people assume happens and it is not a choice anyone is free to make. It is also one of the reasons a roof-space problem is not a sensible job to attempt with a trap bought from a garden centre.
Why the same houses, repeatedly
Because the things that make a property suitable do not change on their own. Mature trees nearby, a fence line to the roof, an overhanging branch, a soft soffit joint, a lifted verge — a property with those will be found again next year by a different animal. Closing the openings is the only part of that list anybody can reliably change.
Questions
Are they trying to get into the house itself?
No. The roof space is the destination. Coming down into rooms is rare and usually accidental, generally through an open hatch.
Does having a bird feeder cause it?
It does not cause it, but it supports a larger local population, and a larger population finds more roofs.
Are red squirrels treated the same way?
No. Red squirrels are a protected native species and the position is entirely different. They are not present in this part of the country.
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.