If you have grey squirrels in your loft, the first question is how they are actually removed. Trapping is the usual answer, but trapping done properly is more than putting a cage in the roof. This guide explains what happens, using squirrel control in Slough as the starting point.
What Trapping Is For
Trapping deals with the squirrels that are inside the building now. It does not stop new ones arriving, which is why it is only one part of a job alongside finding the way in and, afterwards, squirrel proofing after an infestation. A property that has been trapped but not proofed can be re-entered by the next squirrel that finds the same gap.
How a Professional Approaches It
- Find out what is happening. Where the noise is, at what time of day, and whether there are signs of nesting, which are covered in the warning signs of squirrels in a Slough loft.
- Work out how they are getting in. Traps are placed with the entry route in mind, so the route has to be identified first. See how grey squirrels get into Slough homes.
- Choose the method for that property. The right equipment depends on where the animals are, how accessible the space is and whether other animals or pets could be affected.
- Position traps where squirrels actually travel. A trap in the wrong place catches nothing, however good it is.
- Check them as required and deal with what is caught lawfully. The next section covers why this matters.
- Confirm the activity has stopped before the next stage, so the entry point is not closed with an animal still inside.
Why Trapped Squirrels Are Not Released
The grey squirrel is not native to Britain, and it is an offence to release one into the wild. That is why relocating a trapped squirrel to a park or woodland is not an option, whatever you may have read online. A professional will explain what happens to a trapped animal, and that is something to ask about before you book anyone. Any trap also has to be checked regularly so an animal is not left in it, and live-capture traps are normally checked at least once a day.
Why DIY Trapping Often Fails
- Traps are put where the squirrel is heard, not where it travels.
- The trap is set but never checked on time, which is a welfare problem as well as a legal one.
- The squirrel is caught but a second one is already using the same gap.
- The hole is never found, so the problem returns within weeks.
If you are considering doing it yourself, read our guide to getting squirrels out of a Slough loft safely first.
Where Trapping Fits With the Rest of the Job
A complete job has three parts: dealing with the squirrels, finding and closing the way in, and checking what damage has been done. If squirrels have been in a loft for some time, whether squirrels damage roof timbers and how quickly squirrels can damage a loft explain what to look for once they have gone.
A Real Example
We have written up a squirrel trapping job we completed in Reading, showing the kind of attic problem trapping deals with and the fixed cost it was completed for.
What to Expect While Trapping Is Under Way
Noise in the loft may carry on for a short while after the first visit, which does not mean it has failed. A loft can hold more than one squirrel, and trapping continues until the activity has stopped. Keep children and pets out of the roof space, and please do not move or interfere with any equipment that has been placed there.
Other Animals and Safety
Traps are positioned so that pets and non-target animals cannot reach them. If you have a cat or dog that goes into the loft, or the loft is used for storage, tell us before work starts. Droppings and nesting material should not be handled without gloves and a mask.
How Long Does It Take?
There is no standard time, because it depends on how many squirrels are in the roof, how often they travel and how accessible the space is. We would rather tell you honestly that it varies than promise a number that may not hold. What we can tell you is how the job is likely to run for your property, and when you can expect to hear back from us.
What to Do Next
Write down when you hear the noise and where, then call 0118 336 1366 or request a quote. We will explain how the trapping would work for your property before anything goes ahead. For the price, see what squirrel removal costs in Slough.
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