Squirrels.
Before we start on the control of squirrels, I would encourage you to familiarise yourself with the full version of the countryside act relating to non-native species.
The following is a short excerpt about legislation regarding traps, please note that it is illegal to release rats or squirrels if caught in a live trap.
The fine for not putting down a squirrel could be as high as £250,000.
It is now illegal to nurse any members of the invasive species that are injured and return them to the wild.
The EU regulations - devised in 2014 - are aimed at controlling non-native species that put natural plants and wildlife at risk.
Non-native grey squirrels are blamed for the decline in native reds.
Grey squirrels, native to eastern North America, are considered an invasive species in the UK and Ireland because they are not regulated by natural predators.
They have been displacing red squirrels for decades, owing to its greater fitness, bigger size, greater strength, and ability to store fat for winter. By contrast, red squirrels are fatally affected by parapoxviral - a disease to which eastern grey squirrels are immune and unaffected, but contaminate areas visited by red squirrels.
The fine for breach can range from £3,000 to £250,000 and can potentially carry jail sentences if the breach is considered serious enough.
Live Capture Traps, Live capture cage traps are cage boxes that open at 1 or both ends. The doors are triggered by a plate or hook that may have bait placed on them cages should be inspected at least once every day.
Target species must be humanely dispatched at the most suitable opportunity the body should be responsibly disposed of.
Non target species must be released unharmed as soon as possible.
Traps must not be set in a position where the captured animal will be exposed to extremes of temperature or the risk of flooding.
In my experience live trapping, followed by a quick cull off the customers premises and out of sight is often the best way to deal with squirrels in lofts etc. The main reason being that the trapping cage can be set and left for a few days and if the squirrel enters the noise from the trapped squirrel scurrying around in the trap will alert the customer or home owner that the trap has been set off. Then it is possible for them to have the cage emptied.
If however a squirrel trap was set and secured to a beam, it may occasionally mis catch and the squirrel may not be dead, this is potentially a serious situation to confront, due to squirrel having very sharp teeth and they will certainly attack under these situations. I would normally have a trap set in a cubby or tunnel of some description, so the squirrel has no choice but to enter the trap in such a way that an instant death is almost guaranteed.
If you are trapping squirrels outside the trap MUST be in a box or similar where the squirrel will enter the box via a hole and will venture into the set trap whilst foraging for the lure inside.
The one thing that is common to all grey squirrels is their eyes are bigger than their brain, they see food and they go for it regardless of the consequences.
If you have squirrels in loft areas or in buildings, it will be obvious due to the smell and the mess they make of the insulation. Once the squirrels have all be removed from the premises and you can be sure there are none left inside the entry point can be filled or blocked known as proofing, this is normally carried out with a piece of fine wire mesh fixed over the hole. Do not use just expanded foam, the squirrel will just pull it apart.
To lure the squirrel in to trap you must lay a trail of nuts or whatever lure you are using at the time. A breadcrumb trail around the trap or tunnel leading into the trap area by means of a bit more lure inside the area, the squirrel will follow to feed.
Points to be aware of. Bare wires where the squirrel has chewed through, squirrels above you are watching you, they will do any of the following, stay as they are and watch, attack you, run away, hide.
Be on your guard especially if you have found a drey in the loft area, squirrels are very defensive of their young.
Never use poisons for squirrels, if a squirrel dies in a soffit or cavity you may never retrieve the body, and the smell will be horrendous for a few weeks.
If you decide to shoot the squirrel it is always an idea to have a squirrel feeder on the wall or somewhere in the garden or woodland, but make sure of the backdrop in case you miss the squirrel and the pellet or shot flies past the intended quarry.