About this guide
Grey squirrel control in the UK is governed by specific legislation that makes it illegal to release a caught squirrel back into the wild. This guide covers the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Schedule 9 listing, the Invasive Non-native Species Order 2019, approved trap types and their daily checking requirements, and what property owners need to know before taking any control action.
Grey squirrels occupy an unusual legal position in the UK. Unlike most native wildlife, they are not protected — but unlike genuinely unprotected pest species, the law also makes it a criminal offence to release them once caught alive. This creates a mandatory dispatch requirement that many property owners are unaware of before they attempt DIY control. Understanding the legal framework before you start matters, both to comply with it and to avoid inadvertently making the problem worse by relocating animals to neighbouring land.
Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 is the primary piece of UK wildlife legislation. Schedule 9 lists species that cannot lawfully be released into the wild or allowed to escape from captivity in Great Britain. Grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) are listed on Schedule 9 as a prohibited non-native species.
This means that anyone who intentionally releases a grey squirrel into the wild — or who allows a captive grey squirrel to escape — commits a criminal offence under Section 14 of the Act. The maximum penalty on summary conviction is an unlimited fine and/or up to six months' imprisonment. Releasing a caught squirrel in a different location to where it was trapped — a common misconception about "humane" pest control — is therefore not a legal option. All grey squirrels caught alive must be killed humanely on site.
Releasing a caught grey squirrel back into the wild is a criminal offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, regardless of where you release it. Once trapped, the squirrel must be humanely dispatched at the point of capture.
The Invasive Non-native Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order 2019
The Invasive Non-native Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order 2019 (IAS Order) implements in UK domestic law the obligations that formerly arose from EU Regulation 1143/2014 on invasive alien species. Grey squirrels remain subject to its provisions as retained law following the UK's departure from the EU.
The IAS Order reinforces the prohibition on intentional release and establishes an enforcement and permitting framework for managing listed invasive species. For grey squirrels in a practical pest control context, the most important implication of the Order is the legal duty to prevent escape during trapping operations — cage traps must be inspected regularly and animals dispatched promptly to avoid the offence of allowing escape.
Grey squirrels were first introduced to Britain in 1876. By 2019 the population had reached an estimated 2.7 million animals across England, Wales, and parts of Scotland.
— Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), 2019
Approved Trap Types and Legal Requirements
The Spring Traps Approval Order 2018 (as amended) specifies which spring-powered kill traps may legally be used in England for the control of grey squirrels and other pest species. Approved traps for grey squirrel control include the DOC 200, DOC 250, and Kania 2000 — all of which must be set inside a covered wooden tunnel housing that prevents access by non-target species including birds and domestic animals.
The tunnel housing requirement is not optional. Using an approved trap outside an appropriate housing, or using a non-approved trap of any kind, is a criminal offence under the Spring Traps Approval Order and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Traps must be set on private land with the landowner's permission (or on your own land) and must not be set in locations where non-target species — including protected birds — could access them.
Cage traps (live-capture box traps) are not governed by the Spring Traps Approval Order, but their use is subject to the duty to check traps and dispatch any caught grey squirrel humanely. There is no minimum specified checking interval in national legislation, but the professional standard and Animal Welfare Act 2006 obligations require traps to be checked at least once every 24 hours.
Shooting Grey Squirrels
Shooting is a legal and effective method of grey squirrel control where safe and practicable. No specific licence is required to shoot grey squirrels on land where you have the right to do so — but you must hold the appropriate firearms certificate or shotgun certificate under the Firearms Act 1968, and shooting must take place safely away from public areas and neighbouring property. Air rifles of sufficient power (typically .22 calibre at 12 ft-lb) can be used for grey squirrel control within these parameters.
What Property Owners Should Know
If grey squirrels have entered your property — particularly a loft space — the correct sequence is: trap the animals using approved methods, dispatch them humanely, then proof the entry points to prevent re-entry. Attempting to proof entry points with animals still inside risks trapping them in the roof space, which creates a welfare offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and causes additional structural damage as trapped animals attempt to escape.
Professional pest controllers in Sheffield and across South Yorkshire carry out grey squirrel management within the full legal framework — using approved traps, complying with daily inspection requirements, dispatching all caught animals appropriately, and advising on proofing once the infestation is resolved. If you have grey squirrels in or around your property, professional assessment ensures the work is done lawfully and effectively from the outset.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to release a caught grey squirrel?
Yes. Under Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, grey squirrels are a prohibited non-native species. Intentionally releasing a caught grey squirrel — including relocating it to a different location — is a criminal offence carrying an unlimited fine and up to six months' imprisonment. All caught grey squirrels must be dispatched humanely at the point of capture.
Do you need a licence to control grey squirrels in the UK?
No licence is required to trap or shoot grey squirrels on land where you have the right to carry out pest control. However, you must use only approved trap types under the Spring Traps Approval Order 2018, ensure traps are set in appropriate covered tunnel housings, check them at least every 24 hours, and dispatch any caught animals humanely. Shooting requires the appropriate firearms certificate under the Firearms Act 1968.
Which spring traps are approved for grey squirrel control?
The DOC 200, DOC 250, and Kania 2000 are among the approved spring traps for grey squirrel control in England under the Spring Traps Approval Order 2018. All must be set inside a covered wooden tunnel housing to prevent access by non-target species including birds and domestic animals. Using non-approved traps or setting approved traps outside appropriate housings is a criminal offence.
How often must squirrel traps be checked?
The professional standard and Animal Welfare Act 2006 obligations require trap checks at least once every 24 hours. Caught animals must be dispatched promptly — leaving a live animal in a trap without water, shelter, or timely dispatch constitutes an animal welfare offence. Professional pest controllers typically check traps every morning throughout a control programme.
Can I shoot grey squirrels in my garden?
Shooting grey squirrels is legal on land where you have the right to do so, provided you hold the appropriate firearms or shotgun certificate, the shot can be taken safely without risk to neighbours or the public, and you comply with local bylaws and planning conditions. In most urban and suburban gardens, the safety constraints make shooting impractical — cage or tunnel trapping is the more appropriate method.
What law covers invasive species like grey squirrels in the UK?
Grey squirrels are primarily regulated by Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which prohibits their intentional release. The Invasive Non-native Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order 2019 provides the enforcement framework, implementing obligations formerly arising from EU Regulation 1143/2014. Both instruments remain in force and work together to govern how invasive species including grey squirrels must be managed.
Is it legal to use poison to control grey squirrels in the UK?
There is currently no rodenticide registered for use against grey squirrels in England. Warfarin-based bait hoppers formerly authorised for grey squirrel control had their authorisation withdrawn. Poison should not be used for grey squirrel control. The legally approved methods are trapping using approved spring or cage traps, and shooting with appropriate firearms by qualified individuals.