Is Your Roof Squirrel-Proof?

Squirrels look cute, don’t they? Scotland is known for its red squirrels, and they’re native to the country as well. It’s thought there are only around 120,000 red squirrels left in the wild in Scotland, so it makes sense that people are doing the best they can to support them living in the wild here. In contrast, there are only around 30,000 other red squirrels in the wild throughout the rest of Britain. That means you have a better chance of seeing them in Scotland than anywhere else in the country.

However, grey squirrels are also to be found in Scotland, and they could be a nuisance at this time of the year. You certainly wouldn’t want them living in your roof space, but that’s exactly what might happen if you make it easy for the grey squirrels to do so. This is the time of year when many grey squirrels will be looking for a safe haven in which to have their young. A roof space is ideal – sheltered, easy to access (in some cases) and spacious enough to provide a safe place for them to have babies and to bring them up.

If you want to make sure this doesn’t happen at your property, it is wise to make sure your roof is in good condition. You can perform a visual check from ground level to see if you can spot any gaps or areas that might permit a grey squirrel to enter. Damaged or rotten fascias or soffits could allow access to the roof; loose or missing tiles might also present a potential problem.

It is also worth keeping an eye out for squirrel activity in your garden. If you do see them, watch for a while to see where they go. Are they climbing onto your roof? Do they have grass or another similar material in their mouths as they go? If so, you could well have a squirrel building a nest in your roof space.

Deterring squirrels by denying them a source of food is the best way to keep them out of your garden in the first place. However, if you suspect you already have a squirrel making a nest under your eaves, it’s worth calling in a pest controller to see what can be done about it. It’s essential to make sure squirrels aren’t caught inside your roof space before you block up any holes that might be there.