How to Get Rid of Grey Squirrels: Legal Methods Explained

The Legal Framework for Getting Rid of Grey Squirrels

The grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is listed on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as an invasive non-native species. Two legal requirements govern what you can and cannot do when controlling grey squirrels in the UK. First: it is a criminal offence to release a grey squirrel into the wild or allow a captured squirrel to escape (Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Section 14). Second: any killing or taking of a grey squirrel must be carried out humanely, complying with the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

These requirements exist for an important ecological reason. Grey squirrels are the primary driver of red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) decline in the UK — they outcompete red squirrels for food and habitat, and carry squirrelpox virus, which is lethal to red squirrels within weeks but causes no illness in grey squirrels. The UK red squirrel population has declined from several million to approximately 300,000, now confined mainly to Scotland, parts of northern England and Northern Ireland. Preventing grey squirrels from spreading into red squirrel habitat depends on sustained control across buffer zones and connected landscapes.

Method 1 — Cage Trapping (Legal for Householders and Professionals)

Live cage trapping is legal for householders without a licence. Approved cage traps — available from agricultural suppliers and pest control retailers — are baited with whole maize (sweetcorn) and placed on known squirrel runs, at garden entry points, near bird feeders and under trees used by squirrels. The critical legal requirement is: traps must be checked at least once every 24 hours (Animal Welfare Act 2006), and every grey squirrel caught must be humanely killed immediately. It cannot be released. Approved methods of humane dispatch for householders include a swift, firm blow to the back of the skull (a stout stick or baton applied with confidence behind the ears) or CO₂ chamber — the latter requires a suitable container and CO₂ supply.

Many householders prefer to engage a professional pest controller for this stage — trapping is straightforward, but the humane dispatch requirement is the element most people find difficult to carry out themselves. A professional technician carries out dispatch at each daily trap check, making the programme operationally simple for the property owner.

The UK grey squirrel population is estimated at 2.7 million, compared to approximately 300,000 red squirrels — confined mainly to Scotland and parts of northern England. Grey squirrel control in buffer zones around red squirrel habitat is a conservation priority.

— Forestry Commission; Natural England

Method 2 — Approved Spring Traps (Professional Use Recommended)

Spring traps approved for grey squirrel control under the Spring Traps Approval Order (England) 2018 include the Fenn Mk4, Fenn Mk6, Kania 2000 and Mk VI Bodygrip. These must be set inside a tunnel of specified internal dimensions (minimum 230 mm × 75 mm) to reduce access by non-target species such as birds. Spring traps kill instantly and humanely when a squirrel triggers the mechanism. They are highly effective on confirmed squirrel runs — along fence tops, in the crotch of trees, at building entry points — and require less frequent inspection than cage traps. Setting, positioning and recovery of spring traps requires competence and confidence — this is an area where professional pest controllers add significant value over a DIY approach.

Common Trap Siting Mistakes

Poorly positioned cage or spring traps are less effective and increase non-target capture risk. Common mistakes include: placing traps in open, exposed locations away from cover (squirrels prefer sheltered routes along edges and structures); using attractants that are palatable to birds (peanuts in uncovered traps in spring and summer attract corvids and other birds); failing to anchor cage traps securely (squirrels overturn unanchored cage traps without triggering the mechanism); and placing spring trap tunnels on flat ground rather than on the runs squirrels actually use. Professional trap placement draws on knowledge of squirrel behaviour and experience of what works in practice.

Method 3 — Shooting

Grey squirrels may be shot under open general licence (OGL) as an invasive non-native species. Shooting requires a suitable firearm and, importantly, the written permission of the landowner for the land on which shooting takes place. Air rifles, shotguns and rimfire rifles are all used, depending on the setting. Shooting is most effective in woodland, open garden or rural settings where a safe backstop exists and clear shot opportunities present themselves. In urban and suburban residential settings, shooting is generally not practical or appropriate. It is commonly used by land managers and gamekeepers as part of landscape-scale squirrel management programmes alongside trapping.

When Is Professional Grey Squirrel Control Necessary?

Professional grey squirrel control is advisable — and in some cases necessary — in the following situations: squirrels in the loft or building (where the correct sequence of trap, confirm clear, then proof is critical to avoid trapping squirrels inside); loft proofing work (which requires bat survey assessment before structural work begins); large garden or grounds infestations where sustained cage trapping over several weeks is needed; and commercial or agricultural settings where the scale of control requires professional-grade equipment, record-keeping and accountability. In South Yorkshire, Apex Pest Control Ltd provides the full programme — survey, trapping, dispatch, proofing and written discharge report — for residential and commercial properties.

Preventing Grey Squirrels Returning

Once grey squirrels have been removed from a building, preventing re-entry requires proofing all structural entry points with heavy-gauge galvanised steel mesh (minimum 25 mm × 25 mm), repairing or replacing damaged fascia and soffit boards, and sealing gaps around cable and pipe entries through the roofline. In gardens and grounds, deterring squirrels from bird feeders (squirrel-baffler guards, pole-mounted feeders with smooth pole sections, weight-sensitive feeder mechanisms) reduces foraging attractiveness without eliminating the birds you want to feed. Removing or cutting back overhanging branches that give squirrels direct roof access is a practical structural measure. Continued monitoring — particularly in autumn when squirrel activity around buildings increases — allows early detection of any renewed access attempts before damage accumulates.

These grey squirrel guides may also be worth reading: grey squirrel pest control, squirrels in the attic, squirrel pest control, and grey squirrel control.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most effective way to get rid of grey squirrels from a garden?

Cage trapping with whole maize bait, followed by humane dispatch, is the most effective method for reducing grey squirrel numbers in a garden. Traps placed on known runs (along fence tops, under trees used by squirrels, near bird feeders) and checked daily produce consistent catches over a trapping programme. Reducing attractants — squirrel-proofing bird feeders with baffler guards or weight-sensitive mechanisms, removing fallen fruit and accessible bulbs — makes the garden less hospitable and more effective trapping easier.

Deterrents alone (ultrasonic devices, repellent sprays) are not supported by peer-reviewed evidence as effective long-term solutions.

Can grey squirrels be controlled without killing them?

Physical exclusion — proofing buildings with heavy-gauge steel mesh before squirrels gain entry — prevents damage without requiring lethal control and is the preferred approach for building protection. For established garden populations, lethal control via approved trapping or shooting is the legally sanctioned and most effective method. Live-catch cage trapping followed by humane dispatch achieves population reduction.

Relocation and release is not a legal option — it is a criminal offence to release a live-caught grey squirrel. Some areas participate in coordinated fertility control programmes using species-specific hormonal bait, but these are research-stage programmes and not commercially available as standard pest control solutions.

Are grey squirrels a risk to red squirrels?

Yes — significantly. Grey squirrels are the primary driver of red squirrel decline in the UK. They outcompete red squirrels for food and habitat, particularly in broadleaf woodland where grey squirrels can digest acorns (which red squirrels cannot in large quantities), depleting the food source before red squirrels can use it.

Grey squirrels also carry squirrelpox virus — a parapoxvirus that is lethal to red squirrels, causing death within weeks of infection, while grey squirrels are asymptomatic carriers. Grey squirrel control in buffer zones around red squirrel conservation areas (parts of northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland) is an active conservation management priority.

Do grey squirrels carry squirrelpox — what is it?

Squirrelpox (Squirrel parapoxvirus) is a viral disease that grey squirrels carry asymptomatically — it does not cause illness in grey squirrels. In red squirrels, it causes a rapidly progressing, always fatal infection within 2–4 weeks of exposure, with characteristic pox lesions around the eyes, mouth and paws. The disease spreads from grey squirrels to red squirrels through shared food sources, water, or indirect contact at sites both species visit.

There is no treatment for squirrelpox in red squirrels. The combination of direct competition and squirrelpox transmission makes coexistence of grey and red squirrels in the same habitat essentially impossible without sustained grey squirrel management.

What proofing is needed to stop squirrels getting into a building?

Effective proofing against grey squirrels requires heavy-gauge galvanised or stainless steel mesh — minimum 25 mm × 25 mm aperture, fixed securely with screws or staples into timber framing. All identified entry points must be proofed: gaps in the roofline at the eaves, ridge and hip ends; damaged fascia and soffit boards (repaired or replaced with pressure-treated timber plus metal mesh over vulnerable edges); gaps around cables, pipes and aerials entering through the roof; and any area of soft roofing material that squirrels have gnawed through. Standard wire mesh, plastic, timber alone and expanding foam are not adequate — squirrels gnaw through all of them within hours.

Is shooting grey squirrels legal in the UK?

Yes. Grey squirrels may be shot under open general licence as an invasive non-native species listed on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Shooting requires the written permission of the landowner and an appropriate firearm — air rifle for short range, rimfire rifle or shotgun in suitable settings.

Safe shooting practice requires a clear backstop (a safe area behind the target), a clear identification of the target species, and compliance with all relevant firearms legislation. In urban and suburban settings, shooting is often impractical due to safety constraints. In rural, woodland and agricultural settings, shooting is a standard and effective grey squirrel management tool, often combined with trapping.

How can I squirrel-proof a bird feeder?

Squirrel-proofing bird feeders: use a pole-mounted feeder with a smooth metal pole (squirrels cannot grip a smooth metal surface long enough to climb); fit a squirrel baffle (a dome or cone-shaped guard below the feeder on the pole that squirrels cannot climb over); use a weight-sensitive feeder that closes the feeding ports when an animal heavier than a small bird (such as a squirrel) lands on it; and position feeders at least 3 metres from any surface a squirrel can launch from (a fence, wall, tree or building ledge). A squirrel that cannot reach the feeder will eventually stop trying — though an exceptionally persistent squirrel may need active garden trapping to be removed entirely.

Get Rid of Grey Squirrels in South Yorkshire

Apex Pest Control Ltd provides professional grey squirrel control across Sheffield, Leeds, Barnsley and Rotherham. All programmes use legally compliant trapping and humane dispatch, with structural proofing to prevent re-entry. Written reports provided for all completed work.

Contact Apex Pest Control Ltd for a grey squirrel assessment.