Squirrel proofing

[VR99]

We have had a grey squirrel infestation via our loft for years on end with some but limited success using baiting/trapping.

The house has a tiled roof where there is a plastic grille that sits inside/under...the squirrels chew/claw through it to get inside and replacing them like for like has not worked and I am at the end of my wits due to the destruction and mess they are creating in the loft. We also used metal mesh and filler in a few places but it seems they have simply found another entry point, the bu**ers.

Question for those in the building trade or roofers. If we use concrete to seal the holes would this create any damp/mould issues from a ventilation standpoint? I guess could ask the roofer to leave a small gap but wondering if any of the PH masses have done similar?

[BIRMA]

VR99 said:

We have had a grey squirrel infestation via our loft for years on end with some but limited success using baiting/trapping.

The house has a tiled roof where there is a plastic grille that sits inside/under...the squirrels chew/claw through it to get inside and replacing them like for like has not worked and I am at the end of my wits due to the destruction and mess they are creating in the loft. We also used metal mesh and filler in a few places but it seems they have simply found another entry point, the bu**ers.

Question for those in the building trade or roofers. If we use concrete to seal the holes would this create any damp/mould issues from a ventilation standpoint? I guess could ask the roofer to leave a small gap but wondering if any of the PH masses have done similar?

I've had the same problem, they have just eaten away at the plastic guards. As I'm in the roofing industry the answer was simple. Just buy a roll of chicken wire and form back piece into an ice cream cone and insert it into the area under the tiles all the way along, best remove the guttering to do this. You still get the air-flow and they certainly can't eat through it.

Edited by BIRMA on Monday 22 August 13:34

[VR99]

BIRMA said:

VR99 said:

We have had a grey squirrel infestation via our loft for years on end with some but limited success using baiting/trapping.

The house has a tiled roof where there is a plastic grille that sits inside/under...the squirrels chew/claw through it to get inside and replacing them like for like has not worked and I am at the end of my wits due to the destruction and mess they are creating in the loft. We also used metal mesh and filler in a few places but it seems they have simply found another entry point, the bu**ers.

Question for those in the building trade or roofers. If we use concrete to seal the holes would this create any damp/mould issues from a ventilation standpoint? I guess could ask the roofer to leave a small gap but wondering if any of the PH masses have done similar?

I've had the same problem, they have just eaten away at the plastic guards. As I'm in the roofing industry the answer was simple. Just buy a roll of chicken wire and form back piece into an ice cream cone and insert it into the area under the tiles all the way along, best remove the guttering to do this. You still get the air-flow and they certainly can't eat through it.

Edited by BIRMA on Monday 22 August 13:34

Cheers for the info, as a roofer do you have a view on the cementing idea? Im thinking as long as there is a small gap for ventilation it should be ok albeit it is a more expensive option Vs the Chicken wire but tbh I've probably spent more on pest control visits so if it works then don't mind the extra outlay!

[BIRMA]

VR99 said:

BIRMA said:

VR99 said:

We have had a grey squirrel infestation via our loft for years on end with some but limited success using baiting/trapping.

The house has a tiled roof where there is a plastic grille that sits inside/under...the squirrels chew/claw through it to get inside and replacing them like for like has not worked and I am at the end of my wits due to the destruction and mess they are creating in the loft. We also used metal mesh and filler in a few places but it seems they have simply found another entry point, the bu**ers.

Question for those in the building trade or roofers. If we use concrete to seal the holes would this create any damp/mould issues from a ventilation standpoint? I guess could ask the roofer to leave a small gap but wondering if any of the PH masses have done similar?

I've had the same problem, they have just eaten away at the plastic guards. As I'm in the roofing industry the answer was simple. Just buy a roll of chicken wire and form back piece into an ice cream cone and insert it into the area under the tiles all the way along, best remove the guttering to do this. You still get the air-flow and they certainly can't eat through it.

Edited by BIRMA on Monday 22 August 13:34

Cheers for the info, as a roofer do you have a view on the cementing idea? Im thinking as long as there is a small gap for ventilation it should be ok albeit it is a more expensive option Vs the Chicken wire but tbh I've probably spent more on pest control visits so if it works then don't mind the extra outlay!

You do need to maintain the airflow for sure. but if you allow a gap I guess there will be some convection/draw at the base.
Below is a photo of the stuff I used. Bearing in mind how they can chew through cheap peanut holders you buy decent stuff once. A pair of pliers and some gloves are required. I cut off about 12 inches by six inches and form the ice cream cone shape from that, if you fold over the end of the cone it provides a good barrier.



Just as an extra deterrent you can buy an electric stock fence system, as there may be save the squirrel types reading this and that might upset their feelings.

[VR99]

Ok, appreciate the info.

I love animals and nothing against squirrels per say but the level of destruction in the loft with chewed wires and beams, the mess left behind and a bad experience once when removing a dead squirrel and the diseases they can potentially carry I would rather they didn't come in at all! Unfortunately they are both v smart animals and persistent....climber plants allowed them to find our loft in the first place (big mistake letting those overgrow on the outside walls) and here we are years later after multiple generations/families of them have kept returning.

Will see how we get along after the proofing and go from there.

[g40steve]

My parents had grey squirrels in the loft last year for only a short period but the mess & damage surprised me.

We cut back all trees within a few metres of the house, cut back or removed any climbers.

A pest controller came over from Birmingham to Leicester & laid small trays of poisonous bait & returned a week later to top up £65 bargain.

My parents purchased a trap off Amazon & used peanut butter as bait, over a period of almost two weeks several greys were dispatched.

When I visited I found three dead within a couple of metres of the entrance
hole.

Local tradesman blocked up the entrance with very heavy gauge wire mesh & also used a large glass jar.

Supposedly squirrels teeth can chew through most materials but if they touch glass they hate it.

Anyway within three weeks all we’re gone & not returned either.

[Handbag]

BIRMA said:

VR99 said:

We have had a grey squirrel infestation via our loft for years on end with some but limited success using baiting/trapping.

The house has a tiled roof where there is a plastic grille that sits inside/under...the squirrels chew/claw through it to get inside and replacing them like for like has not worked and I am at the end of my wits due to the destruction and mess they are creating in the loft. We also used metal mesh and filler in a few places but it seems they have simply found another entry point, the bu**ers.

Question for those in the building trade or roofers. If we use concrete to seal the holes would this create any damp/mould issues from a ventilation standpoint? I guess could ask the roofer to leave a small gap but wondering if any of the PH masses have done similar?

I've had the same problem, they have just eaten away at the plastic guards. As I'm in the roofing industry the answer was simple. Just buy a roll of chicken wire and form back piece into an ice cream cone and insert it into the area under the tiles all the way along, best remove the guttering to do this. You still get the air-flow and they certainly can't eat through it.

Edited by BIRMA on Monday 22 August 13:34

What he said! I put ice cream cone shaped wire to fill where the plastic comb had been chewed, then a layer of wire along the whole of the plastic comb under the tiles, then a separate layer of wire over the gutter which could be removed if needed for cleaning.
Edit: sorry the thumbsnap upload allocated a filename that tripped the swear filter!

Edited by Handbag on Monday 22 August 18:58

[VR99]

g40steve said:

My parents had grey squirrels in the loft last year for only a short period but the mess & damage surprised me.

We cut back all trees within a few metres of the house, cut back or removed any climbers.

A pest controller came over from Birmingham to Leicester & laid small trays of poisonous bait & returned a week later to top up £65 bargain.

My parents purchased a trap off Amazon & used peanut butter as bait, over a period of almost two weeks several greys were dispatched.

When I visited I found three dead within a couple of metres of the entrance
hole.

Local tradesman blocked up the entrance with very heavy gauge wire mesh & also used a large glass jar.

Supposedly squirrels teeth can chew through most materials but if they touch glass they hate it.

Anyway within three weeks all we’re gone & not returned either.

I think we have been particularly unlucky. We have no trees that are within even 5-10 metres of the house and climbers back/front removed a couple years back but somehow they still climb up the walls and are getting in. Currently have a combination of lethal traps and poisonous bait, the first kills on impact and latter is meant to kill them if they ingest albeit slowly/gradually and thus prevent reproduction of further litters. Two neighbours had same issue but we're lucky that they caught a few in quick succession then no more visits from our furry chums....we have not been so lucky.

I am hopeful that after the proofing this should stop the issue. Failing that I will purchase camo and a silenced air rifle and will then proceed to roll around the garden like Arnie in Commando lying in wait....hoping it doesn't come to that

Edited by VR99 on Monday 22 August 19:00

[GDL]

They are vermin, just fluffy tailed rats. Foreign invaders responsible for the plight of our native reds.

We had the blighters in the loft - you would have thought we had elephants up there for the noise sometimes.

They had chewed through the uPVC fascia.
It was replaced put a new hole appeared within a day.
Swapped out the 2 small sections with 2mm Aluminium.
That worked!

Also got a Procull trap and mounted it on the fence near the bottom of the garden. Currently up to 90 since May last year.
Procull trap from http://www.elgeeco.co.uk/procull.html

[VR99]

GDL said:

They are vermin, just fluffy tailed rats. Foreign invaders responsible for the plight of our native reds.

We had the blighters in the loft - you would have thought we had elephants up there for the noise sometimes.

They had chewed through the uPVC fascia.
It was replaced put a new hole appeared within a day.
Swapped out the 2 small sections with 2mm Aluminium.
That worked!

Also got a Procull trap and mounted it on the fence near the bottom of the garden. Currently up to 90 since May last year.
Procull trap from http://www.elgeeco.co.uk/procull.html

I wish I had known about those Proculls a few years back.....my pest control guy did try an 'improvised' lethal trap attached to a tree but the b*uggers took the bait, triggered the trap but we're able to get away without even a scratch.....

[BIRMA]

VR99 said:

GDL said:

They are vermin, just fluffy tailed rats. Foreign invaders responsible for the plight of our native reds.

We had the blighters in the loft - you would have thought we had elephants up there for the noise sometimes.

They had chewed through the uPVC fascia.
It was replaced put a new hole appeared within a day.
Swapped out the 2 small sections with 2mm Aluminium.
That worked!

Also got a Procull trap and mounted it on the fence near the bottom of the garden. Currently up to 90 since May last year.
Procull trap from http://www.elgeeco.co.uk/procull.html

I wish I had known about those Proculls a few years back.....my pest control guy did try an 'improvised' lethal trap attached to a tree but the b*uggers took the bait, triggered the trap but we're able to get away without even a scratch.....

There was a feature on Countyfile this last Sunday on the subject of grey squirrels, where they proposed a couple of good ideas. Let's hope it goes ahead and allows the red squirrel to survive.