Squirrels are a common rodent pest across Bolton and Greater Manchester, and can be just as destructive and difficult to get rid of as their distant relatives, rats and mice.

There are 2 species of squirrels found in the UK. Native red squirrels are small, with tufted ears, and are a protected species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Grey squirrels are an invasive, non-native species, originally from North America. Grey squirrels are not protected by law, and can be eradicated.

Grey squirrel sitting up in grass
A gap in a roof where squirrels have entered

Issues Caused By Squirrel Infestations

While you might think of squirrels as cute and fluffy, they can be incredibly destructive and dangerous. Squirrels can cause structural damage to your property by chewing through beams, walls, skirting boards, doors and other parts of your property. In some cases, they can even cause a fire hazard by biting through live electrical wiring.

Additionally, squirrels are a health risk, as they carry diseases including Tularemia, Salmonellosis, Typhus, Plague and more. Grey squirrels also carry squirrel pox virus, which can’t spread to humans but is dangerous to native red squirrels, and is the reason why their population has declined so significantly since grey squirrels were introduced.

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    Grey squirrel on a branch

    Squirrel Control
    Frequently Asked Questions