Humane Squirrel Removal & Loft Proofing
Grey squirrels in your attic can chew through electrical cables, timber joists, and water pipes within days. Woodrush Pest Control delivers fast humane removal, drey clearance, and permanent heavy-duty roof proofing across Reading, Berkshire and Hampshire.
How to Tell if You Have Squirrels in Your Loft
Squirrels are larger, heavier, and significantly noisier than rats or mice. Recognizing the signs early prevents catastrophic electrical and water damage.
Loud Daytime Scuffling & Thumping
Unlike rats and mice (which are primarily nocturnal), squirrels are active during daylight hours. You will hear loud galloping, heavy thumping, and scratching early morning and late afternoon.
Chewed Fascias, Soffits & Timber
Large, coarse gnaw marks on wooden roof beams, eaves, and plastic soffits. Squirrels can chew through timber, PVC, lead flashing, and even soft mortar to create access points.
Stripped Wiring & Insulation
Fibreglass roof insulation pulled into deep nests (dreys), and stripped plastic jacketing on overhead electrical cabling, exposing live copper wires.
Larger Cylindrical Droppings
Squirrel droppings are rounder, thicker, and lighter brown than rat droppings (around 8–12mm long). They are often scattered across loft boarding, water tanks, and insulation rolls.
Squirrels on Rooflines & Gutters
Frequent sightings of squirrels running along guttering, balancing on ridge tiles, or slipping directly under eaves and overhanging roof valleys.
Urine Staining & Damp Smells
Yellow or dark urine stains leaking through ceiling plasterboard, accompanied by a heavy, musty animal smell in upstairs bedrooms and hallways.
What Our Typical Squirrel Service Includes
Squirrels are clever, territorial animals with powerful jaws. A superficial trap won't solve the issue if roof entry points remain accessible. Our systematic approach guarantees long-term clearance:
Roofline & Attic Survey
Full diagnostic inspection of your loft interior, fascias, soffits, lead valleys, and chimney flashing to locate every entry point and active nesting drey.
Humane Removal & Trapping
Strategic deployment of professional, approved spring traps or exclusion systems placed in loft runways, adhering strictly to UK humane dispatch guidelines.
Drey & Contamination Removal
Clearing soiled nesting material, sanitising contaminated loft areas, and inspecting exposed cabling to identify any gnawed wires that need electrician attention.
Heavy-Duty Steel Proofing
Installing heavy-gauge welded galvanised steel wire mesh and sheet metal over fascias, soffit gaps, and roofline holes to permanently block future squirrel access.
Why Grey Squirrels Pose Serious Property Hazards
Squirrels exert massive bite force and chew constantly to maintain tooth health.
Electrical Fire Danger
In the UK, an estimated 15% of unexplained domestic fires are caused by rodents and squirrels stripping plastic sheathings from ceiling wiring, sparking in dry loft insulation.
Water Pipe Leaks & Floods
Squirrels readily chew through plastic overflow pipes and Speedfit plumbing lines in lofts, causing sudden high-pressure water leaks and collapsed ceilings.
Structural Joist Weakening
Chewing roof rafters, ceiling battens, and fascia boards weakens structural roof integrity and creates open pathways for rainwater to rot timber framework.
Frequently Asked Questions About Squirrel Control
Everything you need to know about humane grey squirrel control across Reading and Berkshire.
How do squirrels get into my roof or loft space?
Grey squirrels are strong climbers that can leap from overhanging tree branches onto your roof. They enter through rotted fascia boards, slipped roof tiles, soffit gaps, lead flashing, or chew their own entry holes through timber as small as 5–7cm.
Why can't I just seal the hole while squirrels are inside?
Sealing an entry point with squirrels inside traps them in your attic. Trapped squirrels become distressed and will chew aggressively through ceiling plasterboard, structural timber, and wiring to escape, causing severe internal damage.
Is it legal to release a trapped grey squirrel into the wild?
No. Under the UK Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Invasive Alien Species Regulations, grey squirrels are an invasive non-native species. It is illegal to catch and release grey squirrels back into the wild. Professional humane dispatch or licensed exclusion is legally required.
What damage do squirrels cause in a loft?
Squirrels have constantly growing teeth and gnaw relentlessly. In attics they strip plastic insulation from electrical wiring (a major fire hazard), chew through water pipes causing ceiling floods, tear up insulation for nesting dreys, and soil lofts with droppings and urine.
How long does squirrel removal usually take?
Most squirrel infestations are cleared within 3 to 7 days using professional humane trapping or exclusion systems, followed by heavy-duty timber and wire mesh proofing to prevent re-entry.
Will you proof the entry hole after the squirrels are gone?
Yes. Once complete clearance is confirmed, we install robust galvanised steel mesh or sheet proofing over all roofline entry points, fascia gaps, and soffit edges so new squirrels cannot chew back in.
Hearing Squirrels in Your Attic? Contact Grant Today.
Fast action prevents chewed wires and costly ceiling floods. Speak with our local specialist for friendly, professional advice or book your survey online.
