Once a grey squirrel has found its way into a loft, it doesn't just pass through — it often sets about building a nest, known as a drey, using whatever soft material is available. In a roof space, that usually means loft insulation, which squirrels will readily shred and gather into a nesting pile.
For homeowners in Twyford, understanding a bit about squirrel nesting behaviour helps make sense of what's often found during an inspection — and why an occupied loft can look far more disrupted than the noise alone might suggest.
What a squirrel nest in a loft looks like
- A loosely woven, rounded mass of shredded insulation, often piled in a corner or against a joist
- Additional soft materials mixed in, such as leaves, twigs or shredded loft-stored fabric
- Visible flattening or displacement of insulation across a wider area than the nest itself
- Droppings concentrated near the nesting site
- Sometimes more than one nest, particularly if a breeding female has used the space over multiple seasons
Breeding seasons and why timing matters
Grey squirrels can breed twice a year, typically with litters in late winter to early spring and again in summer. A loft that's proven a good nesting spot once is likely to be used again, sometimes by the same female returning across multiple breeding cycles. This is one of the reasons squirrel problems in the same property can recur year after year if the entry point isn't properly closed off after the first removal.
The damage nesting causes beyond the obvious
Shredded insulation loses much of its effectiveness, which can affect the property's energy efficiency long after the squirrels themselves are gone. Nesting activity also tends to be concentrated in one area, meaning that area often needs more than a light clean-up — contaminated or badly disturbed insulation is sometimes best replaced rather than simply left in place.
An occupied nest, especially with young present, needs to be handled correctly and lawfully, which is one of several reasons why professional removal is the right approach rather than DIY methods. It also affects timing — young squirrels that aren't yet mobile can't simply be excluded from the loft, so the approach taken depends on what's actually found during inspection.
If you've found signs of nesting in your Twyford loft, or you're concerned about ongoing activity, contact Pest Services Berkshire for a proper inspection and an approach that deals with the nest, the animals, and the damage left behind.
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