Discovering a squirrel's nest in the loft — usually a rough ball of shredded insulation, leaves, and twigs known as a drey — is a moment that tends to prompt an immediate question: what now? The instinct for many Cookham homeowners is to deal with it themselves straight away, but the right first steps are less about action and more about restraint.
What to do
- Note where the nest is and roughly how much activity you've seen or heard, since this helps with assessing the situation
- Check for obvious entry points from outside without attempting to seal them yet
- Keep pets away from the loft hatch or any access point
- Get in touch with a professional to assess the nest and any young that may be present
What to avoid
Don't disturb or remove the nest yourself, and don't attempt to seal the entry point while the nest is active. If young squirrels, known as kits, are present and the mother is sealed out, or vice versa, it can lead to distressed animals causing further damage as they try to reach each other, or to a young squirrel dying inside the roof space, which creates its own separate problem with odour and pests.
Why grey squirrels are subject to legal rules
Grey squirrels are an invasive, non-native species in the UK, but their control is still governed by wildlife legislation covering how they can be trapped and dispatched, and this needs to be done lawfully and humanely. This is one of the clearest reasons to have nesting squirrels dealt with by someone experienced, rather than attempting DIY removal, particularly where young are involved.
What a professional visit involves
A proper assessment looks at the extent of the nest, whether young are present, how the animal or animals are accessing the loft, and what condition the surrounding insulation, timber, and wiring are in. From there, a plan is put together for safely clearing the loft, followed by proofing to stop it happening again.
If you've found a squirrel's nest in your Cookham loft, the safest and quickest route to a proper resolution is getting it assessed rather than trying to manage it yourself. Contact Pest Services Berkshire on 0118 336 1366 for a free quotation and guidance on next steps.
Think you have squirrels in your Cookham loft? Fast, professional grey squirrel control.
Get a Free Quote →Why Choose Pest Services Berkshire
We're grey squirrel control specialists covering Cookham 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.