squirrels

Grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) are not native to the UK. . .  they were first introduced from North America at the end of the 19th Century as a purely ornamental species, designed to grace upper-class estates and country homes.

The damage that they cause finally became apparent in the 1930's, when it was made illegal to release grey squirrels into the wild.

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The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the grey squirrel amongst the worst 100 Invasive Alien Species (IAVs) in the world and makes the lethal control of grey squirrels a necessity.

Bonus content:  MORE ABOUT THE GREY SQUIRREL

The introduction of grey squirrels is known to be a major contributing factor in the decline of the native red squirrel.  Not only do they outcompete the red squirrel for shelter and food, grey squirrels are responsible for transmitting the squirrelpox virus to red squirrels.

Once a red squirrel contracts squirrelpox, it will usually die (of dehydration) within 2 weeks. . .  whilst the grey squirrel remains unaffected by the disease.

Signs of squirrel activity;  Scratching and rustling sound from your loft or cavity wall.
Droppings left in your loft or attic – (Surepest can identify these droppings for you).
A smell of urine in the loft is an indication that the squirrel infestation is longstanding.
Fruit or nuts being stolen from bird feeders, or the feeders being disturbed.
Bark stripped from trees in your garden, plus holes in vents or damage to your insulation foam are all signs that grey suirrels are the culprit pests.

Damage to homes:  Grey squirrels are rodents and, like their rat cousins, can cause enourmous damage when they invade roof spaces of houses and buildings.  For example, squirrels can gnaw on woodwork and ceilings, strip insulation from electrical wires, tear up fibreglass insulation and contaminate cold water tanks with their urine and droppings.

Proofing;  During the initial treatment visit, Cliff will advise on the simple steps you can take to prevent grey squirrels gaining access to your building, including;  Trimming tree branches that overhang your roof, remove anything stacked up against the side of your property and seal all entry points.

Squirrels are most active before sunrise, especially in winter, with peak activity in the 4 or 5 hours before dawn.

Grey squirrels have come to associate humans with food, meaning they sometime approach people, although it's very rare for a squirrel to actually attack!

Gardens & allotments;  they can take fruit, raid nests of small birds and dig holes in lawns to bury food.

Woods & forests;  In woodland, the grey squirrel's drey is a very messy looking, spherical nest, found in a hole in a tree, or in the crook between trunk and branches (which makes them easier to see in winter when there is less foliage).  Grey squirrels cause particular damage to beech, oak and chestnut trees, stripping bark at the base which causes the trees to weaken, and eventually to die.

Grey squirrels also raid birds’ nests to prey on eggs and fledglings, damage orchards and gardens, destroying bulbs and corms, eating tree nuts and recently sown seeds.  Grey squirrels are particularly injurious to historic and ancient woodlands (The European Squirrel Initiative, or ESI, estimate that grey squirrels cause £40 million damage to British forestry annually!

In fact;  the ESI have voiced serious concern that, unless something is done, there will be no mature oak, beech, or sweet chestnut trees left in the years to come.

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treatment options

The preferred, legal and most humane method of control in domestic environments is trapping.  The traps need to be checked daily and the animals removed without delay. . .  to be dispatched humanely, off site (because grey squirrels cannot legally be released back into the wild).  Shooting is only a viable option for large scale infestation of commercial farmland or forestry.

For farmers or estate managers see the AGRICULTURAL pest control page or call Cliff Howard on  07837 793 963 to arrange a free evaluation survey.

(The poisoning of squirrels, even inside buildings, has now been outlawed due to the risk posed to non-target species)

likely fees & charges

Initial control visit  (includes siting of 2 x traps):  £75

Each return visit:  £45

The scale of infection and the size of the property will determine the final control response and schedule. 

A fuel surcharge of £10 may be payable for site visits over 20 miles from Hereford.

Bonus content:  TOWNS & VILLAGES WITHIN 20 MILES!

The following villages and towns are all with 20 miles of Hereford:  Weobley, Leominster, the Forest of Dean, Hay on Wye, Ledbury, Eardisley, Kingstone, Bromyard, Ross on Wye and Ewyas Harold.

Just a little further afield, but still within Surepest's squirrel trapping range are;  Monmouth, Newent, Tewksbury, Worcester & Gloucester.

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