Spotting a gap where squirrels are getting into your Woodley roof space is a strong prompt to grab some sealant or expanding foam and close it up straight away. It's an understandable instinct, but sealing an active entry point without checking what's on the other side first is one of the most common and avoidable mistakes homeowners make.
The Real Risk of Sealing Too Soon
If a squirrel, or more critically, young squirrels too small to leave the nest on their own, are inside the loft when the entry point is sealed, you can end up trapping them in the roof space. Trapped animals will often cause significant additional damage trying to chew or claw their way back out, and the outcome for the animal itself is distressing at best. It's also a problem you may not discover until you notice a smell, which is a far worse situation to deal with than the original gap.
Confirming Activity Status Before You Seal Anything
- Check for signs of young squirrels, particularly during the main spring and late-summer breeding periods
- Watch the entry point at dawn and dusk to see whether squirrels are still actively entering and exiting
- Look beyond the one obvious hole – there may be other entry points still in use even if this one looks quiet
- Get a full loft inspection rather than assuming one visible gap tells the whole story
One-Way Exclusion Is Often the Safer Approach
Rather than sealing an active hole outright, a controlled one-way exclusion approach allows squirrels already inside to leave via the entry point but prevents them getting back in, which avoids the risk of trapping anything while still working towards closing the gap permanently. This is a more considered process than a DIY seal-and-hope approach, but it's much safer for both the property and the animals involved.
When Sealing Is the Right Final Step
Once the loft has been properly checked and confirmed clear of squirrels and any young, sealing the entry point with durable, gnaw-resistant materials is exactly the right move, and an essential one to stop the same gap being used again. The key is sequencing: confirm first, then seal, rather than the other way round.
If you've found a squirrel entry point on your Woodley property and aren't sure whether it's safe to seal, contact Pest Services Berkshire on 0118 336 1366 before doing anything to it. We'll assess activity levels first and make sure sealing happens at the right time, in the right way.
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