Squirrel control in East London

What squirrels look like

A grey squirrel has a grey coat, often with a brownish tinge along the back in summer, a white or pale belly and a big bushy tail it often holds curled over its back. Its ears are short and rounded, without the tufts of a red squirrel. Red squirrels disappeared from London long ago, so any squirrel you see around East London will be a grey.

Size

Body 23–30 cm, with a bushy tail nearly as long

Colour

Grey, often brownish on the back, with a pale belly

Breeding

One or two litters a year, usually 2–4 young

Diet

Nuts, seeds, buds, bark, fungi and bird food

Nest

A drey of twigs and leaves, or a loft if it can

Signs of squirrels

• Daytime loft noise

  Thumping, scratching and scampering overhead, mostly in the early morning and late afternoon. Rats and mice are usually heard at night instead.

• Holes at the roofline

  Chewed gaps in fascia boards, soffits or at the eaves, sometimes with fresh wood chips on the ground below.

• Damaged loft contents

  Shredded insulation, gnawed timber and stored boxes, and bulky nests made from insulation, leaves and paper.

• Chewed cables and pipes

  Stripped cable insulation or gnawed pipes in the roof space, which can create a fire or leak risk.

• Regular roof visits

  Squirrels seen running along the roof, gutters or nearby branches, and disappearing at the same spot each time.

Life cycle and breeding

Squirrels breed more slowly than rats or mice, but the timing matters. A pregnant female looking for somewhere dry and safe is often the one that ends up in your loft.

1. Mating chases

   From around December to February, and again in early summer, you'll see males chasing a female through the trees and across roofs.

2. Pregnancy

   Pregnancy lasts about six weeks. The female builds or takes over a nest to give birth, and a quiet loft suits her well.

3. In the nest

   Litters are usually 2–4 young, born blind and hairless. They stay in the nest until they're around ten weeks old.

4. Moving on

   Once weaned, young squirrels move off to find their own patch. Most can breed by the following year.

Where squirrels live and how they get in

Grey squirrels live in the parks, gardens, street trees and railway embankments that run all through East London. They normally nest in a drey, a football-sized ball of twigs and leaves high in a tree, but a loft is warmer, drier and safer. Terraced rows with joined-up rooflines let them run from one roof to the next.

• By leaping onto the roof from nearby trees, fences and garden walls.
• By climbing rough brickwork, drainpipes and cables up to the eaves.
• Through gaps where the soffit meets the wall, or where fascia boards have rotted or come loose.
• By chewing a small gap at the roofline until it's big enough to squeeze through.
• Through slipped tiles, broken vents or the joint where an extension roof meets the house.

Why it matters

How squirrel control works

1. 1

   Roof and loft survey

   We inspect the roofline and loft to confirm squirrels are the cause, find the active entry points and assess the damage.

2. 2

   Options and advice

   We explain the options that suit the building and the level of activity, within the legal rules that apply to grey squirrels.

3. 3

   Treatment where appropriate

   Any treatment is agreed with you beforehand and planned so that no squirrels are left trapped inside the roof space.

4. 4

   Proofing and prevention

   Once the loft is confirmed clear, entry holes should be repaired with durable materials, and we advise on branches and other access routes.

What you can do yourself

• Watch where they go in

  Spend half an hour watching the roofline early in the morning. Squirrels tend to use the same spot every time, and knowing exactly where it is saves a lot of guesswork later.

• Don't trap one yourself

  It's illegal to release a grey squirrel once it's caught, so a cage trap leaves you with an animal you can't legally let go. Leave any trapping to someone who can deal with it properly and humanely.

• Check cables and the tank

  Have a careful look at the wiring, pipes and water tank cover in the loft. If you find chewed cables, don't touch them, and get an electrician to check them.

• Protect what's stored

  Move boxes, clothes and paperwork off the loft floor into sealed plastic crates, as squirrels shred them for nesting. Wear gloves and a dust mask if you handle soiled insulation.

Prevention

• Cut back branches that overhang or touch the roof, as squirrels use them to get across.
• Repair rotten fascias, soffits and gaps at the eaves before squirrels can chew through them.
• Use squirrel-resistant bird feeders and avoid leaving food out close to the house.
• Check the loft now and then for droppings, shredded insulation or chewed timber.

Squirrels are most often found in lofts in late winter and spring, and again in summer, when they look for somewhere to raise young.

Common myths

• Myth: They'll leave once the weather warms up.

  The truth: Spring and summer are when they're most likely to have young up there, so warmer weather often means more activity, not less.

• Myth: That gap's far too small for a squirrel.

  The truth: Squirrels chew wood and plastic vents to widen a gap, so a small hole at the roofline doesn't stay small for long.

• Myth: Squirrels are protected, so nothing can be done.

  The truth: Grey squirrels aren't a protected species. They're classed as invasive and non-native, so they can be dealt with, but only by legal and humane methods.

Questions about squirrels