About this guide
This guide covers grey squirrel pest control in the UK — why they are a controlled species, the law on capture and mandatory dispatch, the damage they cause to property and forestry, approved control methods, and how professional pest controllers manage infestations. The page supports Apex Pest Control Ltd's squirrel control service by explaining the legal and practical position before users choose a pest control provider.
The grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is not native to the UK. Introduced from North America in the late 19th century, grey squirrels now number approximately 2.7 million across Great Britain. Their management is governed by specific wildlife legislation that significantly affects how they can be controlled — including a legal requirement that any live-caught grey squirrel must be humanely dispatched on site rather than released.
Legal status and why grey squirrels cannot be released
Grey squirrels are listed under Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (WCA 1981) as an invasive non-native species. Under Section 14 of the WCA 1981, it is an offence to release a grey squirrel into the wild or to allow one to escape. This provision is reinforced by the Invasive Alien Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order 2019 (IAS Order 2019), which implements EU Regulation 1143/2014 as retained in UK law.
This means that any grey squirrel caught alive in a cage trap or live catch trap cannot be released at another location. It must be humanely dispatched on site. The most common professional methods are CO₂ or a sharp blow to the head. This is not a matter of pest controller preference — it is a legal requirement. Anyone caught releasing a live-caught grey squirrel commits a criminal offence regardless of their intention.
Grey squirrels cost the UK forestry sector an estimated £37 million per year through bark stripping damage to hardwood trees — ring-barking kills the tree above the stripping point and degrades timber quality across managed woodland.
— Forestry Commission / APHA, 2019
Damage caused by grey squirrels
Property damage: Grey squirrels entering roof spaces via trees overhanging or adjacent to buildings cause significant damage. They gnaw electrical cables (a fire risk), strip roof felt and insulation for nesting material, contaminate water tanks, and create entry points that allow water ingress and further pest access. Squirrel activity in a loft is one of the more urgently addressed pest situations because of the fire risk from cable gnawing.
Forestry damage: Grey squirrels strip bark from the stems and branches of young hardwood trees — particularly beech, sycamore, and oak — typically in late spring and early summer. Ring-barking kills everything above the stripping point. This causes an estimated £37 million per year in forestry losses in the UK (Forestry Commission/APHA, 2019), which is the primary driver of organised grey squirrel management programmes in woodland settings.
Impact on red squirrels: Grey squirrels are immune to squirrelpox virus (Squirrelpox virus, SQPV) but act as a vector, shedding the virus in their urine. Red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) are highly susceptible to squirrelpox and typically die within 2–3 weeks of infection. The spread of grey squirrels has been a primary driver of the decline of red squirrels to small remnant populations in northern England and Scotland.
Grey squirrel control is not optional for property owners who want to protect red squirrel habitats in areas where the two species overlap. Any grey squirrel entering a property near a red squirrel conservation area must be controlled to prevent squirrelpox transmission. Natural England and the relevant devolved nature authorities can advise on local management priorities.
Approved control methods
Cage traps with mandatory dispatch: Multi-catch or single-catch cage traps baited with whole maize, peanuts, or other attractants. Squirrels are caught alive and must be dispatched humanely on site — typically CO₂ or a sharp blow to the head. Cage traps must be checked daily under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and must be positioned so that non-target species (cats, birds, red squirrels in shared range) are not inadvertently trapped.
Spring (body) traps in tunnel housings: The DOC 200/250 and Kania 2000 are approved under the Spring Traps Approval (England) Order 2018 for use against grey squirrels when set in covered wooden tunnel housings. These traps deliver a rapid kill and are used extensively in woodland management programmes. They must be checked daily and set in approved housings only.
Shooting: Squirrels may be shot under the General Licences where shooting for pest control is lawful. This requires appropriate firearms authority and is more commonly used in rural and woodland settings than in urban residential situations.
No rodenticides are licensed specifically for grey squirrel control in the UK. Any rodenticide use for squirrels would require a specific licence, which is not routinely available.
How professional pest controllers manage grey squirrels
A professional grey squirrel programme typically involves a survey of the property to identify entry points (usually roof-level access via adjacent trees, missing or damaged soffits, open eaves), deployment of cage traps in the loft and at identified access routes, daily checking and dispatch of any caught squirrels, and repair of entry points after the population has been addressed.
The most important preventative measure — and one that reduces the ongoing need for control — is denying roof access: cutting back trees with branches overhanging or within 2–3 metres of the building, and ensuring soffits, fascia boards, and eaves are intact and sealed. Grey squirrels can jump significant horizontal distances but must have a launch point. Removing that launch point is the most effective long-term prevention measure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I release a grey squirrel I have caught in a trap?
No. It is a criminal offence under Section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the IAS Order 2019 to release a grey squirrel into the wild or allow it to escape. Any live-caught grey squirrel must be humanely dispatched on site. This applies to everyone — releasing a grey squirrel elsewhere, however well-intentioned, is illegal.
Are grey squirrels protected in the UK?
No — grey squirrels are not protected. They are listed under Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as an invasive non-native species that must not be released into the wild. They can be legally controlled by trapping, shooting, and spring traps under the Spring Traps Approval Order. It is the release, not the control, that is prohibited.
Why are grey squirrels so damaging to UK forests?
Grey squirrels strip bark from hardwood trees in late spring and early summer, ring-barking them above the stripping point and causing die-back of the crown. This causes an estimated £37 million per year in UK forestry losses (Forestry Commission/APHA, 2019). Young beech, sycamore, and oak are particularly vulnerable.
Do grey squirrels carry disease?
Grey squirrels carry and shed squirrelpox virus (SQPV) in their urine without being harmed by it. Red squirrels are highly susceptible to squirrelpox and typically die within 2–3 weeks of infection. This is a primary driver of the decline of red squirrels in the UK. Grey squirrels do not carry disease that poses a significant direct risk to human health.
How do I stop grey squirrels getting into my loft?
The most effective measure is removing access routes: cut back tree branches to at least 2–3 metres from the building, and ensure soffits, fascia boards, eaves, and roofline gaps are fully sealed. Squirrels can also enter through damaged airbricks at high level. A professional survey will identify all access points. Proofing works should be carried out after confirmed removal of any squirrels already inside.
Can I use poison to get rid of grey squirrels?
No rodenticide is currently licensed specifically for grey squirrel control in the UK without a specific licence. Approved control methods are cage trapping with dispatch, spring traps (DOC 200/250 and Kania 2000 in covered tunnel housings), and shooting under the General Licences. A professional pest controller will use these approved methods.
What qualifications do pest controllers need to manage grey squirrels?
Grey squirrel control does not require a specific rodenticide qualification but professionals should hold the RSPH Level 2 Award in Pest Management as a minimum, covering wildlife legislation, approved trap types and their legal requirements, and humane dispatch procedures. Spring trap use requires familiarity with the Spring Traps Approval (England) Order 2018.