“I hate them with their long tails and their stupid twitchy noses. (shoots two squirrels, “eep”, “eep”)
Fans of the popular TV series, Black Adder, will appreciate the reference here, but probably for slightly different reasons than our featured highwayman.
Squirrel control has become something of a hot topic with the steady decline of the indigenous red squirrel in the UK, and the exploding population of their imported cousin, the grey squirrel.
In fact, the blame for the reduced number of red squirrels has been placed at the furry feet of grey squirrels which were introduced to Britain from their native North America back in the late 1800s. Nobody knows for sure why the Victorians chose to set them loose in Henbury Park in Cheshire, but we can be sure that they had no idea of the effects of their actions.
When we discuss squirrel control in this article, please be assured that we are referring to the invasive grey squirrel and not our little red residents.
The Problem With Squirrels
Grey squirrels have proven to be resilient and adaptable; making the best use of food and habitat and proving resistant to disease. They dig up and eat the food that has been carefully hidden by red squirrels, and they have a higher tolerance to certain foods which would be indigestible for the local squirrel population.
The problem with squirrels is that they are incredibly cute. It’s hard to imagine these furry little rodents with their bright eyes and fluffy tails as pests.
Yet, pests they are.
Squirrels have a long rap sheet, including:
- Damage to homes and buildings
- Chewing on woodwork
- Destruction of insulation
- Chewing on wiring
- A negative impact on the local wildlife
- Damage to Britain’s forests
- Raid allotments and fruit trees as well as bird’s nests
- Contamination of water tanks
While squirrels aren’t necessarily aggressive or dangerous, the problem comes in when they are looking for a home to raise their little ones. They are then likely to chew and claw their way into spaces in your building and pull up anything that can be used as bedding.
Add to this the fact that, as rodents, their teeth never stop growing, they are going to chew – well, pretty much anything.
How Do I Know If I Need to Call In Squirrel Control?
Do you have a squirrel problem?
If you have noticed any of these signs, then you probably do:
- Scratching sounds from your loft
- Squirrels on or near your property
- Fruits, seeds and nuts being taken from your bird feeders
- Trees with stripped bark
- Holes or damage to your insulation or vents
- Holes in your garden and landscape damage
- Chewed insulation wires or soft piping
So how can we deter these clever little creatures from joining us as unwelcome house guests?
Deterring and Removing Squirrels
As with any pest, we need to remove easy food sources and the possibility of a comfy home.
Squirrel deterrent tips:
- Cover your chimney with mesh to prevent access
- Cut back trees and shrubs that are close to your home that can provide a walkway
- Use squirrel-proof bird feeders;
- Cover the pole with petroleum jelly which prevents squirrels from climbing
- Place a plastic pipe over the rod leading to the feeder which will spin when anything tries to walk on it
- Seal up any holes or cracks which may allow access into your house
Yes, there is only so much we can do to deter these agile little mammals, and there may come a time when you need to call in expert help.
Combat Pest Solutions have been dealing with grey squirrel infestations for years. They know exactly how to determine whether you have a problem, or a big problem, and exactly how to deal with it in a practical and humane way.
Why not give Warren and his team a call on 0118 380 1544.