Squirrels in the loft sound different to rats — louder, more daylight activity, sometimes a distinct rolling-nuts noise. They're also a different legal and practical problem. Grey squirrels are invasive under UK law (Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 plus the Invasive Alien Species Order 2019), and once trapped they cannot legally be released back into the wild. This guide walks through lawful removal, what it costs, why the legal route matters, and how to handle the (extremely rare) case of red squirrels in Cornwall.

The species question first

UK lofts host two squirrel species — but in Cornwall, almost certainly grey:

  • Grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) — introduced from North America in the late 1800s. The dominant species across England, Wales and most of Cornwall. Body 25-30cm, predominantly grey with white belly, sometimes with reddish tint along sides. Invasive non-native species.
  • Red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) — native, but absent from Cornwall mainland for several decades. Re-introduction projects on the Lizard Peninsula and limited mainland populations exist but encountering one in your loft is extremely rare. Smaller (18-22cm body), red-brown coat, tufted ears. Native species, fully protected.

If you suspect red squirrels in your loft, contact Cornwall Wildlife Trust BEFORE booking pest control. Red squirrels are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and any handling must be by licensed wildlife professionals.

For 99%+ of Cornwall properties, loft squirrels are greys. The rest of this guide assumes greys.

The legal position on grey squirrels

Multiple overlapping pieces of legislation:

  • Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), Schedule 9 — grey squirrels are listed as a species which is established in the wild but for which release into the wild is restricted. Section 14 makes it an offence to release a grey squirrel into the wild or allow one to escape.
  • Invasive Alien Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order 2019 — formalised grey squirrel as an invasive species under EU-derived UK law. Makes it illegal to keep grey squirrels in captivity or allow captive greys to breed without a specific permit.

The practical consequence: once you've trapped a grey squirrel, you cannot lawfully release it back into the wild. The only legal options are humane dispatch on site (by a competent operator) or — in very specific permitted research/conservation cases — retention under permit, which doesn't apply to nuisance-pest work.

This shapes how pest controllers work: they trap and humanely dispatch, they don't relocate.

Signs you have squirrels not rats

  • Loud daytime activity — squirrels are diurnal; rats are nocturnal. Banging and rolling sounds during the day points to squirrels.
  • Distinctive "rolling nuts" sound — squirrels cache and re-cache food items, dragging them across loft boards
  • Heavier impact noise than rats or mice — squirrels are 400-700g, much heavier than even rats
  • Larger droppings — 15-20mm, sausage-shaped (rats 10-20mm capsule, mice 3-5mm pellet)
  • Chewing damage to wooden roof timbers — squirrels gnaw rafters, ceiling joists and stored items aggressively to keep their incisors trimmed
  • Wire damage — like rats, squirrels chew electrical cabling; a documented cause of building fires
  • External signs — squirrels visible on roof, climbing trees adjacent to the building, running along power lines
  • Activity peaks — January-April (mating and birthing) and September-November (preparing winter cache)

Why grey squirrels in lofts is a Cornwall problem

  • Wooded gardens with mature oaks, beeches and conifers provide squirrel habitat — much of Cornwall's larger residential gardens qualify
  • Bird feeders — sustained food supply attracts and supports squirrel populations
  • Granite-and-stone construction with open eaves provides loft access
  • Adjacent trees within 2m of the eaves give squirrels jump access
  • Climbing routes via downpipes, ivy, wisteria, lean-to roofs
  • Loft insulation provides perfect drey-building material

What lawful removal looks like in Cornwall (2026)

  1. Survey visit. Controller confirms species (grey vs red), identifies entry points, assesses scale.
  2. Trap placement. Live-capture cage traps placed at entry points and within the loft. Spring-trap (kill-trap) use is regulated under the Spring Traps Approval Order — only approved trap types are legal, and they must be set in specific ways.
  3. Daily trap checks. Live traps must be checked at least daily (animal welfare requirement). Catch is humanely dispatched on site by the operator.
  4. Continued trapping until no fresh activity for 7-10 days
  5. Proofing handover. Worklist of structural fixes — sealing eaves, mesh on vents, cutting back climbing routes

Indicative Cornwall pricing:

  • Survey + trap programme (single squirrel or pair): £200-£350
  • Multiple squirrels or longer programme: £300-£500
  • Repeat invasions (annual problem): £250-£400 per intervention
  • Proofing work (separate from controller): £200-£800 builder costs
  • Damage repair (chewed wiring, insulation, joists): variable

What's NOT legal — common misconceptions

  • Trapping and releasing in nearby woodland — illegal under Schedule 9 and the 2019 Order. The squirrel must be dispatched on site.
  • Drowning trapped squirrels — considered inhumane; not an approved dispatch method. Animal welfare offences may apply.
  • Poisoning — there is no general-use approved rodenticide for grey squirrel control in the UK. Use of anti-coagulant rodenticides against grey squirrels requires specific Authorisation; routine SGAR use against squirrels is not permitted.
  • Shooting in built-up areas — generally inappropriate and may breach firearms regulations on safe discharge
  • DIY spring traps in lofts where children or pets can access — additional safety concerns and may breach approved-use conditions

What homeowners can do legally

  • Use approved live-capture cage traps with appropriate bait (peanut butter, sunflower seeds, apple) — provided you commit to checking daily and to lawfully dispatching captured greys (most homeowners pass this step to the pest controller)
  • Remove bird feeders temporarily to reduce food attraction
  • Cut back climbing routes — overhanging branches within 2m of the eaves, ivy and wisteria up the gables, downpipes that double as squirrel ladders
  • Proof the entry point with stainless steel mesh (heavy gauge — squirrels chew through light wire) — this is the long-term solution
  • Install one-way exclusion doors at known entry points (after confirming no juveniles remain inside — this would otherwise separate kits from mother)

Timing — when to act

Best season for squirrel removal:

  • October-February — minimal breeding activity, no kits in dreys; clean removal possible
  • Avoid March-May if possible — adults are likely to have dependent kits in lofts; removing the mother without addressing kits is a welfare issue and you'll soon have a different smell problem
  • Late summer/early autumn (Aug-Sept) — second viable window before winter habitat-seeking

Proofing — the part that prevents next year's invasion

Grey squirrels are persistent and territorial. Without proofing, the next-generation squirrels will reuse the same entry points. Effective proofing:

  • Heavy stainless mesh (1mm-2mm wire, 12mm aperture) over all vents, gable openings and accessible soffit gaps. Lighter mesh gets chewed through.
  • Sheet metal flashing around vulnerable timber where squirrels have previously gnawed
  • Cutting back trees within 2m of the building line — this is the single highest-value proofing measure
  • Spike strips on horizontal pipes that squirrels use as ladders
  • Replacing damaged tiles and lead flashing at gable ends

Get matched with a Cornwall squirrel specialist

Submit your postcode on the quote form and mention "squirrels in loft" in the notes. We match you with Cornwall pest controllers experienced with lawful grey squirrel removal and proofing. See related: rats in the attic, prevention guide, Bodmin, Launceston.