At first sight, squirrels may appear like attractive animals with their lively scamper, glossy coat, bright eyes and bushy tails; but the truth is that they can cause a great deal of damage. If they have found their way into your attic, or are creating havoc in your garden, it’s time to call upon the services of Essex & Suffolk Pest Solutions, the pest control experts in Colchester, Woodbridge and Felixstowe. We provide a quick and successful grey squirrel removal service for domestic and commercial organisations, and to keep our services low key, we can arrive in an unmarked vehicle on request.
Pest Control Colchester – contact us now for a friendly, efficient pest control service in Essex, Woodbridge and Felixstowe.
Meanwhile, at Essex and Suffolk Pest Solutions we are often asked for information about various pests in the Colchester, Woodbridge and Felixstowe area, and here are our answers to some of the common questions we are asked about squirrels:
What species of squirrels are there?
The most common species of squirrels in the UK are red and grey squirrels. Whereas the red squirrel is native to Britain, and is a protected species, grey squirrels are considered to be a pest. They carry a pox which is deadly to their native cousins, and compete with the reds for food. Unfortunately, while the red squirrels are declining at an alarming rate, the grey squirrels are rising in number and there are estimated to be around 2.5 million greys in the UK.
Black squirrels are a lesser known species of squirrel and, like the greys, they originated from North America. The two species share a similar nature and habitat and black squirrels are commonly spotted in rural parts of Cambridgeshire.
What do grey squirrels eat?
Grey squirrels eat all sorts of plant based material such as buds, bulbs, flowers, fruit, roots, nuts, acorns and tree shoots. They sometimes steal birds’ eggs and eat fledglings.
What is a squirrel’s lifespan?
A grey squirrel can live up to a decade, although their lifespan will generally fall between three and four years. They are a pest at any time of year, and this doesn’t depend on the season.
When is their breeding period?
Female grey squirrels usually give birth around March and April time and if they have a healthy access to food, they sometimes produce a second litter, commonly around June or July. They produce up to nine young at a time.
Why are squirrels a problem in domestic properties?
Squirrels can cause considerable damage to property. Over time, they have become much more courageous in their search for food, and they can sometimes enter kitchens to take scraps. At Essex and Suffolk Pest Solutions, each year we get a number of enquiries to deal with the problem of squirrels settling in lofts and roof voids – you will know if they are in your attic as you can hear them running about. If you do have a squirrel problem, these pests are best dealt with straight away as they can chew through walls, beams, insulation and electrical cables.
What damage can they create in commercial buildings?
In commercial buildings, grey squirrels can cause similar problems to those listed above; and if they do chew through cables, at the very least it can cause electricity failure, but more worryingly, this can create a serious fire risk which could put your staff and business in jeopardy. This is why it is so important to deal with a squirrel problem straight away.
What damage can they cause in parklands and woodland?
Grey squirrels are not only a threat to property, but they are also a concern in gardens, parks, open spaces and commercial woodland. They chew through bark to get at the sap which can kill off a tree as it prevents vital nutrients from travelling up to the branches. Squirrels are also prone to digging holes in gardens (to bury their food) and will seek out newly planted bulbs to eat.
Can I carry out DIY squirrel pest control?
There are various DIY measures on the market if you have a problem with grey squirrels. These include government approved spring traps, and pest repellers to stop squirrels roaming into your garden. However, this is not always an effective form of pest control so it is important to bring in the experts from Colchester, Woodbridge and Felixstowe, who can tackle the problem and prevent it happening again.
It is also important to note that although grey squirrels are not protected by law, it is an offence to kill or injure red squirrels.
Do Essex & Suffolk Pest Solutions take preventative measures?
Yes. As with all our pest control measures in Colchester, Woodbridge and Felixstowe, we feel that prevention is the best course of action. After treatment we will also make sure that your domestic or commercial building is left squirrel proof and lay strong wire mesh to prevent the problem from re-occurring.
What other ways do Essex & Suffolk Pest Solutions address a squirrel problem?
Our pest control measures are extremely effective, which is why we can offer a guarantee. We generally use traps, which are simple to use and are very successful for the treatment of grey squirrels, although poison may be necessary in some cases.
Pest Control Felixstowe – contact us now to address the problem of grey squirrels at your domestic or commercial property.
Thursday 30 January 2014
Wednesday 29 January 2014
Cannibal Rats Are All At Sea
Cannibal rats causing alarm
The thought of rats turning to cannibalism after being left on an abandoned cruise liner floating in the north Atlantic has got the press into something of a flurry.
| The thought of disease infested rats turning to
cannibalism after being left on an abandoned cruise liner floating in the north
Atlantic, and due to beach on a west country UK shore, has got the press into
something of a flurry. However, it is now thought that the Lyubov Orlova cruise liner – dubbed the ‘ghost ship’– which was heading towards British shores may have sunk. The ship has been adrift ever since it broke loose en route to the scrap yard in the Dominican Republic. ‘Experts’ in the press say it was likely to still contain hundreds of carnivorous rats that have been eating each other to survive. All good stuff! |
 The Lyubov Orlova' sitting derelict at dockside in St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, October 2012 © Dan Conlin |
The Lyubov Orlova cruise liner has been drifting across the
Atlantic for nearly a year. About the only people happy at the thought of it
arriving on a British beach are salvage hunters hoping to trace the 4,250-ton
vessel valued at €1 million (£829,000) as scrap.
Built in Yugoslavia in 1976, the unlucky vessel was abandoned in a Canadian harbour in 2010 after its owners were embroiled in a debt scandal and did not pay the crew. Newfoundland authorities attempted to sell the hull for scrap to the Dominican Republic, but cut their losses when it came loose in a storm on the way. The ship has been adrift ever since. Click here for more information about rat control | |
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