How to Identify a Squirrel Nest in a Hungerford Loft

Once you've been up into the loft, or a tradesperson has spotted something while working on your Hungerford roof, the next question is usually: what exactly is this? Squirrels build a distinctive type of nest called a drey, and being able to recognise one helps confirm what you're dealing with before deciding on next steps. It's a useful distinction to make, because the approach for squirrels differs from dealing with birds or rats, and misidentifying the nest can lead to the wrong action being taken.

What a Squirrel Drey Looks Like

• A rounded, bulky outer structure woven from twigs, leaves and stripped bark
• A softer inner lining, often made from shredded loft insulation, moss, or soft fabric-like material if it's available
• Roughly football-sized to slightly larger, noticeably bigger and messier than a typical bird's nest
• Positioned against a solid surface such as a rafter junction, chimney breast, or corner of the loft rather than free-standing

Common Locations Within a Hungerford Loft

Squirrels tend to favour the quieter, more sheltered parts of a loft — tucked into eaves, built into corners where two roof slopes meet, or against a chimney breast where there's extra warmth. In period Hungerford properties with more complex roof structures, dreys can also turn up in less obvious pockets created by older timber framing.

Signs Alongside the Nest

• Droppings scattered near the nest site, similar in size to large raisins
• Gnawed timber, cardboard or stored items nearby
• Daytime scratching or rolling noises, since squirrels are active during the day rather than at night
• A noticeable, slightly musty smell in more established nests

Squirrel Nest vs Other Wildlife

A bird's nest is typically smaller, more neatly cup-shaped, and made almost entirely from twigs and grass with a tidy woven structure. A rat's nest is usually flatter, made from heavily shredded material such as paper or insulation, often accompanied by a stronger, more unpleasant odour and signs of activity at night rather than during the day. A squirrel drey sits between the two in size, but the daytime activity and bulkier, rounder shape are usually the clearest giveaways.

If you've found a nest in your loft and aren't sure what you're looking at, Pest Services Berkshire can inspect it, confirm exactly what's present, and advise on the right next steps for your Hungerford property.

Why Choose Pest Services Berkshire

We're grey squirrel control specialists covering Hungerford and the surrounding area, investigating both the current infestation and how the animals are getting in. Every job starts with a free, no-obligation quotation.