Professional Squirrel Removal in Kent
Squirrels in a Kent property are treated by GEM Services with a 4-stage process: loft inspection, trapping, trap checking and removal, proofing and repair. Typically 1-2 weeks to trap all squirrels and proof the entry points. Treatment is carried out by a technician from a BPCA member company and quoted before anyone visits, and callouts peak in spring and autumn.
What you are dealing with: squirrels
Species we most often treat in Kent: Sciurus carolinensis (grey squirrel)
Grey squirrels breed twice a year, in early spring and mid-summer. Small litters are born in each season, and the young leave the nest once they are weaned. Grey squirrels are classified as an invasive non-native species in the UK and have no legal protection.
Grey squirrels are excellent climbers and can jump over 2 metres between branches or from trees to rooftops. They enter loft spaces through gaps in soffits, broken tiles, and along rooflines. Once inside, they gnaw woodwork, strip electrical cables, and shred insulation for nesting material.
Squirrels eat nuts, seeds, berries, bird eggs, and bark. They cache food in autumn, burying nuts across gardens and parks. In urban areas they are bold and will raid bird feeders and bins. They prefer to nest in tree holes or dreys (leaf nests) but readily move into loft spaces for warmth and shelter.
Where we usually find squirrels on a property
- ✓Loft spaces, especially in insulation
- ✓Behind fascia boards and in soffits
- ✓Wall cavities accessed from the roofline
- ✓Tree dreys (leaf nests) close to buildings
- ✓Garden sheds and outbuildings with roof access
Squirrel treatment at a glance
| Pest treated | Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis (grey squirrel)) |
|---|---|
| Peak season | Spring and Autumn |
| How long it takes | Typically 1-2 weeks to trap all squirrels and proof the entry points. Straightforward cases may be resolved faster. |
| Visits usually needed | 4-stage process, carried out over one or more visits depending on how far the problem has spread |
| How urgent | Treat promptly. Delay makes this materially worse and more expensive. |
| Response | We treat squirrel infestations promptly due to the fire risk from gnawed wiring. We aim to visit within 2-3 days. |
| Area covered | All of Kent, from our base in Ashford |
| Safety | Carried out by a technician from a BPCA member company, fully insured. We tell you which areas to keep children and pets out of, and for how long, before we start. |
| What it costs | Quoted before anyone visits, once we know three things: the pest, the size of the property, and how far the infestation has spread. Call 07400 372204 for a free, no-obligation quote. |
Signs you have squirrels
Catching the problem early decides how much of it there is to treat. These are what we look for on arrival, and what is worth checking before you call.
Heavy scratching and thumping in the loft
Squirrels are larger than rats and produce louder, heavier sounds. You will hear thumping, scurrying, and gnawing during daylight hours, unlike rats, which are nocturnal.
Damage to soffits, fascias, or roof edges
Squirrels gnaw holes in wooden soffits and fascias to access the loft. Look for chew marks and enlarged gaps along the roofline.
Shredded insulation and droppings in the loft
Squirrels tear up loft insulation to build nests. Their droppings are slightly larger than rat droppings and more rounded at the ends.
Gnawed electrical cables in the loft
Squirrels gnaw on cables, water pipes, and stored items. Damaged electrical wiring is a serious fire hazard. This is the most dangerous aspect of a squirrel infestation.
How we treat squirrels, step by step
Every job follows this sequence. What changes between properties is how long each stage takes, not the order.
- 1
Loft inspection
We inspect the loft space to confirm squirrel activity, assess damage, and identify all entry and exit points. Squirrels often have more than one access route.
- 2
Trapping
We set professional cage traps inside the loft space. Under UK law, grey squirrels caught in traps must be humanely dispatched: it is illegal to release them back into the wild.
- 3
Trap checking and removal
We return to check traps every 24-48 hours as required by law. Most squirrel problems are resolved by catching 1-3 animals over a few days.
- 4
Proofing and repair
Once all squirrels are removed, we seal entry points with galvanised mesh or metal plates. We can also advise on repair of any cable or insulation damage.
How long it takesTypically 1-2 weeks to trap all squirrels and proof the entry points. Straightforward cases may be resolved faster.
What squirrels cost you if they are left
Squirrels in the loft gnaw electrical cables (fire risk), damage water pipes (leak risk), and destroy insulation. The noise overhead is disruptive, and squirrels can cause thousands of pounds of damage if left unchecked. Females with young are particularly destructive as they build large nests.
Squirrels in commercial roof spaces damage cabling, stock, and building fabric. Offices and retail units in areas with mature trees are particularly vulnerable.
Health risks
- ⚠Minimal direct health risk from squirrels
- ⚠Squirrel droppings and urine can carry salmonella
- ⚠Fleas and ticks from squirrels can transfer to other animals or people
Damage to the property
- ⚠Gnawed electrical wiring, serious fire risk
- ⚠Damaged water pipes and plumbing
- ⚠Shredded loft insulation
- ⚠Chewed woodwork, soffits, and fascia boards
- ⚠Damage to stored items in loft spaces
When squirrel problems peak in Kent
Squirrels enter loft spaces most frequently in autumn seeking warmth for winter, and in spring when females look for safe nesting sites to raise young. Activity in lofts peaks during these breeding periods.
Keeping squirrels out after treatment
Treatment clears what is there now. These are what stop it coming back, and they are worth doing whether or not you use us.
- ✓Trim tree branches that overhang the roof or come within 2 metres of the building.
- ✓Repair any gaps in soffits, fascias, and roof tiles promptly.
- ✓Fit metal mesh over potential entry points. Squirrels can gnaw through plastic and wood.
- ✓Avoid leaving bird feeders close to the house. They attract squirrels to the property.
- ✓Check your loft space regularly for signs of entry, especially in autumn and spring.
When you do not need us
A single squirrel sighting outdoors, away from the building and with none of the signs above, is usually not an infestation and does not need a treatment. Work through the prevention points first and see whether the activity continues.
Where this does need acting on quickly is anything indoors, anything near a doorway or a room in daily use, and any sign of an established nest or colony. Squirrels problems of that kind get harder and more expensive the longer they run.
We also do not carry out structural repairs. We seal and proof the entry points we find, but where the fabric of the building needs rebuilding, that is a builder’s job and we will say so.
Squirrel Removal across Kent
We provide rapid squirrel removal response across Kent. Find your local area below.
Squirrels treatment: common questions
Can grey squirrels be relocated?
No. Under UK law, it is illegal to release a grey squirrel back into the wild once captured. They are classified as an invasive non-native species. Trapped squirrels must be humanely dispatched.
How do squirrels get into the loft?
They gnaw through wooden soffits, squeeze through gaps around roof tiles, and climb up walls or along overhanging tree branches. A hole as small as a tennis ball is enough for a squirrel to enter.
What damage can squirrels do in a loft?
The biggest risk is gnawed electrical wiring, which can cause fires. They also damage water pipes, shred insulation, and contaminate the loft with droppings and urine. Repair costs can run into thousands.
I can hear noise in the daytime. Is it squirrels or rats?
If the noise is during the day, especially in the morning and late afternoon, it is likely squirrels. Rats are predominantly nocturnal. Squirrels also produce heavier, louder sounds than rats.
Will squirrels come back after removal?
Not if entry points are properly sealed. We use galvanised mesh and metal plates that squirrels cannot gnaw through. Without proofing, a new squirrel may find the same entry point.
Book squirrel removal in Kent
Squirrels problems do not resolve on their own, and the longer an infestation runs the more of the property it reaches. A treatment booked this week costs less and takes fewer visits than the same problem left until next month.
We treat squirrel infestations promptly due to the fire risk from gnawed wiring. We aim to visit within 2-3 days.
Typically 1-2 weeks to trap all squirrels and proof the entry points. Straightforward cases may be resolved faster.
We cover the whole of Kent from our base in Ashford. Treatments are carried out by a technician from a BPCA member company, and we are fully insured.
The next step is a phone call.
Tell us what you have seen and where. We will tell you what treating it involves and what it will cost, before anyone visits.
Call 07400 372204Cannot talk right now? Send us the details instead and we will call you back.