Grey Squirrels: Adorable in the park, a nightmare in your home
Struggling with grey squirrels in your home? Discover how professional squirrel pest control London services can help prevent damage and keep these rodents out of your loft. Trust Mercury Pest Control for expert squirrel removal and rodent control.
Grey squirrels may not be native to this island (having arrived in the late 1800s), but they’ve quickly become a common, and often adorable, sight in parks, gardens, and wildlife areas across London and the UK.
But what happens when they make their way into your home? Grey squirrels have had a bad reputation since they first arrived from North America, pushing out the native red squirrel population. Now, 150 years later, they’re still here. But this time, they’re invading our homes.
Grey squirrels have four main breeding months – February, March, June, and July. This is when they hunt for small cozy spaces to build their nests. For grey squirrels that have adapted to city living here in London, what better nesting spot than roof spaces and loft conversions?
With these seasons fast approaching, we at Mercury Pest Control want to equip you with the knowledge to prevent, identify, and properly handle a grey squirrel invasion in your home.
“But they’re so cute!” I hear you say. And yes, they are, from a distance and in the wild. But when they invade our homes, they can cause significant damage.
What damage do grey squirrels typically cause?
Grey squirrels in your loft are the last thing you need. As they settle in to build their nests in lofts, eaves spaces, and ceiling voids, they cause significant damage along the way. They gnaw through soffits and fascia boards, and once inside, their next target is pipework and electrical wires, especially in renovated loft conversions. This not only leads to costly damage but also creates potential fire hazards. Grey squirrels in your loft, is the last thing you need.
In one case, we saw a grey squirrel gnaw through a customer’s ceiling plasterboard and drop straight into their bedroom, which caused quite a shock!
In more severe cases, we’ve found structural damage to rafters and joists, making the problem even more challenging to resolve.
Grey squirrels aren’t silent while building their nests. Their gnawing, scurrying, and nest-building activities are incredibly loud. We’ve worked with families with children all across London who have found the noise not only distressing, but disruptive to everyday life.
Grey squirrels are considered so invasive that under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it is illegal to catch them in your home and release them back into the wild. As this would only give them further opportunities to disrupt local wildlife.
How to prevent grey squirrels from becoming pests and invading your home
From Sutton to Golders Green, Brixton to Southfields, grey squirrels love London. You might think this is unusual—after all, it’s the country’s biggest city, more urban than rural. But London has a big, common problem with grey squirrels. They’ve adapted and know how to live alongside us. Why move to the countryside when there are 3.8 million homes to choose from?
So, how do you stop them from choosing yours? Below are some grey squirrel control methods we recommend;
- Seal entry points. Have a qualified squirrel pest control London contractor or competent roofer carry out a survey of your roof and home exterior to check for the following:
- Cracks or gaps in the foundation, walls, roof, and vents. Request that these be sealed with caulk, metal flashing, or other suitable materials.
- The overall condition of the roof structure, ensuring there are no gaps or weak points.
- That fascia and soffits are securely in place to prevent pest entry.
- Whether a chimney cap is needed if the chimney is not in use.
- Manage outside space
- Remove bird feed, or, if you love your bird visits, use squirrel-proof bird feeders to deter them from your garden
- Ensure pet food and bird food is stored indoors
- Regularly trim trees and overhanging branches to prevent grey squirrels from using them to access your roof
- Ensure outside bins are covered and tidy. If there’s a spillage, clean and tidy as quickly as possible
- Using deterrents
- Plant or pot flowers that grey squirrels dislike, such as daffodils, hyacinths, and marigolds
- Use natural scent repellents that grey squirrels dislike, such as, peppermint oil, capsaicin, coffee grounds, white vinegar, garlic, cinnamon, and rosemary
What to do when prevention to squirrel pest control is no longer an option
Have grey squirrels already made their way into your home? The longer you wait, the more damage they’ll cause to your property and your peace of mind. If they’re already inside, it’s time to give us a call.
We are the go to grey squirrel squirrel pest control London and squirrel exterminator. From carrying out pest control surveys to the safe removal and disposal of grey squirrels, we handle it all.
We can humanely capture and remove grey squirrels from your home at competitive rates, with a level of quality you can rely on, both domestically and commercially.
With over 19 years of experience in squirrel pest control across London, and more than 100 5-star Google reviews, you can trust us to get the job done right
Mercury Pest Control’s tried and trusted method includes:
- Free telephone consultation
- Detailed inspections and reporting
- Targeted treatment and control
- Proofing to prevent further issues
If you’re dealing with unwanted guests, professional squirrel pest removal services, like Mercury Pest Control, can help protect your home. Don’t let these persistent rodents take over. Expert rodent control for squirrels ensures they stay where they belong: in the wild, not in your loft!
Don’t wait for severe damage, contact us for squirrel pest control London now
Call 0208 166 5110, email info@mercurypestcontrol.co.uk or send us a message today for expert help!
Location: London, United Kingdom
Header Photo by anish lakkapragada on Unsplash
