Squirrels in the Attic in Northwich, Middlewich and Weaverham.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The grey squirrel population in Manchester, Lancashire & Cheshire has rocketed over the last 20 years to the extent that they are now a major household pest dealt with by Squirrels in Attic Pest Control

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The grey squirrels which we see in our parks and gardens (Sciurus carolinensis) are not native to the British isles, having been brought here less than two-hundred years America and Canada

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Like other members of the family Sciuridae, the Grey Squirrel is a scatter-hoarder; it hides food in many small caches for later recovery. Some caches are temporary, particularly those made near the site of a sudden surfeit of food.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Others are more permanent and are not eaten until many months later. It has been seen that each squirrel makes several thousand of these caches each season. Squirrels have very accurate spatial memory for the locations of these hoards, and use far and near landmarks to relocate them. Smell is used when the squirrel is within close range of the cache.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The nest of the grey squirrel is called a dray (or drey) and it is normal for the female to have two litters per year, with two to four babies each.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They can be minor problems, rooting bulbs and eating food intended for birds but can become major pests when they come into our houses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is increasingly common for Trafford Pest Control to call out to properties where a nest has been constructed in a loft or attic space.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Squirrels are true rodents and as such have teeth which never stop growing; the word rodent comes from the Latin word rodere meaning to gnaw or eat away and this they do extremely well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is rare to visit a roof space where a dray has been found and find that they have not damaged electric cables, indeed it is estimated that forty percent of fires without an obviously attributable cause may be started by rodents damaging wiring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately they can also chew through water-pipes, especially with the recent movement towards plastic piping.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As if that is not enough, most household insurance policies do not cover damage done by vermin so if a squirrel floods your home by going through a pipe in the attic you may find yourself without any cover.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dealing with Squirrels in Loft requires a professional, often because the law regarding squirrels is ever changing. You cannot simply get a packet of poison from your local store and deal with them that way as you would be committing a criminal offence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Furthermore you cannot catch them and move them some distance away, not only would removing a squirrel from the area of its food caches probably starve it to death, it is also breaking the law under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 which makes it illegal to release a grey squirrel in Britain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That applies also to rescuing and/or rehabilitating and releasing injured squirrels.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In most cases trapping is the the only option and this must be done in a specified manner with routine, timed inspections of the traps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trapped squirrels should be then despatched humanely.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you have a problem with squirrels in Lancashire, Cheshire or Manchester phone us on 01925 670375