Grey Squirrels

The winter coat is grey above with white underside; the summer coat is shorter, sleeker and brownish grey above. It is more heavily built than our native red squirrel.

And is seen more often foraging on the ground. Droppings vary in shape and colour depending on diet, though they are usually spherical or elongated similar to those of rats.

In their natural habitat grey squirrels build nests or dreys in the forks of trees or in hollow trunks. In urban areas they will enter roof spaces by climbing walls or jumping from nearby trees.

They eat a wide range of items from nuts, fruit buds and shoots to fungi, birds' eggs and nestlings. In suburban gardens much of their diet comes from food put out for birds or deliberately put out for squirrels.

If they get into our property they can cause serious damage. They chew woodwork and ceilings, strip the insulation from electrical wiring, tear up fibreglass insulation to form nests and sometimes drown in cold water tanks.

The noise they make, particularly at night, scratching and running about can be very disturbing.

They cause environmental damage, stripping bark off trees, causing young trees to die, eat strawberries, apples and plums and can destroy many garden plants with their activities.

Don't feed or encourage squirrels into your garden. If you put out food for the birds, use squirrel-proof feeders. Do not put food on the ground, as this may attract other pests such as rats.

Keep your home in a good state of repair so that squirrels can not gain access. Repair gaps at eaves and any slates or roof tiles that are broken. Make sure all air vent covers are intact.

Our Pest Control Section can provide a treatment service to control grey squirrels. The Pest Control Section is widely recognised within the industry and other local authorities for its knowledge and authoritative approach in dealing with pest related issues.