Grey squirrels are actually damaging to gardens and wildlife, say experts (Image: Getty)
They are a cute and popular garden visitor which many like watching hop around their – but many people don’t know that grey squirrels are actually a foreign invader which has driven out the native British red squirrels and can damage gardens, kill birds and even impact your house.
It could mean that grey squirrels invade your roof space, damage timbers or even rip apart plumbing and electrical wiring if left unchecked. And what’s more, grey squirrels are a particular nuisance to breeding and nesting birds in , who go through one of their most important periods of the year in March and April as they nest and breed for the year ahead.
According to British Red Squirrel.org, a survey by the Forestry Commission of vulnerable woodlands in Great Britain estimated that 100% of sycamore, 66% of beech, 30% of oak and sweet chestnut stands had been damaged by grey squirrels, while the invasive mammals also kill and eat wild bird eggs and their chicks in people’s gardens.
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It added: “Grey squirrels eat song-bird chicks and eggs. Research carried out by the Game Conservancy and Wildlife Trust demonstrates that grey squirrels have an adverse impact on many native woodland birds, reducing fledging rates by an average of 15%.
“Grey squirrels can damage maize and fruit crops. They are a threat to orchards and market gardens. They destroy bulbs and corms, eat tree nuts, recently sown seeds and enter into roof voids, damaging thatched and shingled roofs, telephone wires and electricity cables.
“Grey squirrels have driven the native red squirrel to localized extinctions by out-competing the red squirrel for food and habitat and by carrying a lethal squirrel pox virus to which it is immune but which is deadly to the native red squirrel.”
To keep squirrels at bay, you can put chilli powder in your garden, which is despised by squirrels but this doesn’t differentiate between the British red and invasive grey.
BritishRedSquirrel.org is urging people to check if they live in an area with red squirrels or with a reintroduction programme. It said: “Please contact the in your area. If you live in an area with only grey squirrels, look on the to see if there is a grey control project nearby.
“Please consider setting up a community grey control group.”
Grey squirrels are not just bad news for gardens and wildlife, but they can also damage your house too.
Those who have grey squirrels in their property are being warned to contact Environmental Health, say professional house buyers .
They said: “Grey squirrels often produce a litter in February, which means they can become a particular nuisance at this time of year. If they manage to invade your roof space, they can damage your roof timbers, plumbing and electrical wiring with their biting.
“If you currently have grey squirrels nesting in your roof, we would recommend contacting who will be able to address the issue.
“To prevent any further grey squirrels from nesting on your roof, it’s important to fix any damage to your roof, such as the eaves and soffits, to prevent them from gaining access. Similarly, use a durable wire mesh and cut back any tree branches to block access.”