Finding the entry point is the single most important part of dealing with squirrels properly. Removing a squirrel from the loft without closing off how it got in simply invites the next one — or the same one — straight back. Here's how to approach the search around a typical Maidenhead roofline, and where the limits of a DIY inspection usually are.
Start From the Ground
Before getting anywhere near a ladder, walk the full perimeter of the property and look up at the roofline from a distance, ideally with binoculars. Look for anything that breaks the clean line of the soffit, fascia or tiles: dark gaps, gnawed or splintered timber edges, displaced tiles, or a patch that looks different in colour or texture from the surrounding area. Do this at a few different times of day, since low sun angles can make gaps far easier to spot.
Where Entry Points Most Commonly Turn Up
- Soffit and fascia joints, especially corners and where sections meet.
- Roof valleys and hips, where tiles are more easily displaced.
- Around pipes, vents or cables passing through the roof.
- Gaps behind guttering where it meets the fascia board.
- Old, unmeshed vents or disused bird boxes fixed to the roofline.
Signs That Confirm an Active Entry Point
- Gnaw marks with pale, fresh-looking wood rather than weathered grey timber.
- Smoothed or polished edges around a gap from repeated squirrel movement.
- Debris such as insulation fibres or droppings caught at the entry point itself.
- A squirrel seen entering or leaving the same spot more than once.
Where DIY Inspection Reaches Its Limit
A ground-level and binocular check will catch the obvious gaps, but a full roofline can have multiple points of weakness, and some — particularly on steep roofs, behind chimneys or on properties without safe ladder access — simply aren't safe to inspect without the right equipment. There's also a real difference between spotting a gap and correctly judging whether it's currently active, previously used, or just cosmetic damage that squirrels have never actually exploited.
If you've found a possible entry point on your Maidenhead property, or you'd rather have a full roofline survey carried out properly and safely, contact Pest Services Berkshire. We'll identify every active point of access, not just the obvious one, before any proofing work begins.
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