[Mr_Wistles]

I am just about to make an offer on a house.

There are two opposite each other, one backs on to woods (the one I prefer) I have heard though that squirrels are a complete pest and will cause extreme damage to home.

Is this true? anyone have any experience?

[IronGiant]

Squirrels used to nick all the hazel nuts out of my tree, never did any damage to the house. Now the wasteland behind us is cleared the squirrels have moved on and we have a new housing estate behind us, I preferred the squirrels

Dave

[overkill]

Originally Posted by Russell_Piper

I am just about to make an offer on a house.

There are two opposite each other, one backs on to woods (the one I prefer) I have heard though that squirrels are a complete pest and will cause extreme damage to home.

Is this true? anyone have any experience?

They're no worry unless your roof is damaged. Then they will sneak in and make the damage worse to gain easier access. It's warmer in your roof than in them trees.......... My mate has loads of them in his garden and they've never done any harm. Bar annoying him by stealing the seeds he puts out for the birds!

[Mep]

we back on to fields and have hazel trees and bird food...no probs with squirrels...I like to see them in the garden.

[squirrely]

Loads around my house,never had any problems with them,just make sure they DONT get in your house.

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[Knyght_byte]

we had squirrels getting in the roof for a while, they didnt do any damage in there, just built a few cosy areas up and made scratching noises late at night as they ran around (was quite spooky till we realised...lol)..

however since having had a cat for the last decade (two cats, one ran off ) we dont get them come thru the garden so much....not since my current cat dragged one in to the living room anyhow...LOL

[Steve.J.Davies]

I used to get a visitor squirrel in the attic (overhanging eaves). made a hell of a row at night. Paid a guy to catch it and get rid. then got another one, squirrel not guy - (maybe it was a squirrel smell thing). This time bought a trap from a game shooting type place - forty quid for the trap, cheaper than getting the guy around !! (Tip of the Day !)
if you end up trapping them you are NOT supposed to release them.
That cutsey squirrel prancing around the garden becomes snarling hissing scratching biting bundle of hate and fury when you pick him up in that trap - wear thick gloves on that hand. disposal in a large bucket in the easy way....

another one started hanging around but a neighbours cat had a session with him in the bin store and he never came back.

I tried everyting to get rid of the attic visitor - even mothballs (don't ask, he spent half the night playing pelota and or roller skating with the things by the sounds of it). Put a long story about it on the BBC website for Home Truths some time ago, don't know if it still extant. (just looked, board seems deleted and the web archive no good for it. Shame it was an interesting board. Story I wrote was funny enough to be a pick of the week. shame I didn't keep a copy, coulda reused it here)

Squirrels are just rats with good PR - if you get 'em get shot of them.

but you see them everywhere nowadays in towns so don't worry unduely.

I am convinced that it the action of buying a proper squirrel trap that stopped them coming round, conniving little blighters....

[Ian J]

They can be a fire hazard if they nest in the roof as they can start to chew through the electric cables.

[la gran siete]

Americans particularly despise them , calling them tree rats

[krish]

we've quite a few squirrels around our area, since we have woods at one end of the road, and a few gigantic ancient trees with preservation orders
- all new builds on former NHS land, and most have had their roofing squirrel proofed

the only problem is the odd inconsiderate neighbour without a garage who's too tight to get an outdoor bin and leaves their bin bags outside all week; so rubbish is often strewn across the road, blowing into our drives after the squirrels have tucked in

apart from that I like seeing them in my garden, just wished they had an appetite for the frogs on my lawn though

[dakara]

I have a Stone Martin that visits my roof space. It is reasonably quiet and clean, and creates no problems. In fact ,it is most beneficial, since it keeps the house and garden free of rats, mice, squirrels, and other pests.
It also keeps out bats, which can be a really "smelly" problem, since once you have them, it is against the law to get rid of them, and a roof full of "bat guano" is not something I would wish on anybody.
I call it "Nightstalker", since I seldom see it, but frequently find its tracks in the morning.

[Mr_Wistles]

Cheers for the advice everyone. Doesn't seem to be as bad as I have been led to believe.

I'm going to chuck in an offer tomorrow, wish me luck.

[Crocodile]

Originally Posted by Ian J

They can be a fire hazard.

[neilneil]

Krish, Frogs (and hedgehogs for that matter) are great for the garden 'cos they eat the slugs.

-Neil

[Dave]

If squirrels are causing problems you can just shoot them.

Grey squirrels are a pest and push out the native red squirrels who are no problem at all.

[lynx]

Originally Posted by Daerve

If squirrels are causing problems you can just shoot them.

They can be tricky to dispatch as their thick fur can absorb the energy from an air rifle pellet fairly well.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by lynx

They can be tricky to dispatch as their thick fur can absorb the energy from an air rifle pellet fairly well.

Indeed, if you do want to shoot them make sure the gun and more importantly you are up to the job.

It is cruel to leave the animal injured and if it buggers off after you shoot it, it may have a slow and painful death.