Scampering overhead at dawn is not always mice. In Lenton's Victorian roofs, grey squirrels can nest in the loft and chew through timber, pipes and cables.
Squirrels are active in the day, so noise in the loft tends to be early morning and late afternoon. It sounds heavier than mice or rats: thumping, dragging, scratching and sometimes a rolling noise like a nut being pushed along. Rats and mice are mainly night animals, which is a useful clue.
Grey squirrels nest in lofts, using insulation, paper and any soft material to make a drey. Females can have young in spring and again later in the summer, so a noisy loft in late spring may contain kits.
Squirrels gnaw constantly. In a loft they chew timbers, water pipes, tank lids and, most seriously, electrical cables. Damaged insulation on a cable is a possible fire risk, so it is worth having wiring checked by an electrician if you have had squirrels in the roof.
Lenton has Victorian terraces with older roof timbers and eaves, and a mix of mature trees and gardens in the area. A squirrel only needs a small gap at the eaves or a damaged fascia to get under the tiles, and a branch near the roof makes the journey easy. Student houses may have lofts that nobody enters for months, so a problem can build up unnoticed.
Grey squirrels are an invasive species, and it is illegal to release a trapped grey squirrel back into the wild. A professional treatment typically involves finding the entry point, trapping or controlling the animals humanely, removing nesting material and proofing the roof so they cannot return. How long it takes depends on how many squirrels there are and how accessible the roof is.
If you are a tenant, tell the landlord or agent promptly, since roof repairs may be their responsibility. Our free pest prevention survey can help identify the likely entry points and the trees or fences that give squirrels access.
Prevention is largely about the roof. Trim branches that touch or overhang the tiles, ask a roofer to repair damaged fascias and soffits, and keep bird feeders away from the house, since they attract squirrels close to the building. These steps are most useful after the squirrels have been dealt with and the entry holes properly closed.
Call 0115 937 5117 and we will arrange a visit at a time that suits you.
They can chew through cable insulation in lofts, which creates a risk. If you have had squirrels in the roof, it is sensible to have the wiring checked by a qualified electrician.
Grey squirrels are active during the day, while rats and mice are mostly nocturnal. Heavy noise at dawn or late afternoon points towards a squirrel rather than a rodent.
Tell us what you have seen and where, and we will come back to you. Prices are fixed and there is no call-out charge.
