Squirrel Trapping in Ely
£280 Fixed Cost
The service page for Ely — what we do, what it costs and what to expect.
See the service →Squirrel Trapping — Ely
Where Are Squirrels Getting Into the Roof of My Ely Home? – Cost & Prevention Guide
Everybody looks for the hole. The more useful question is how the animal reached the roofline in the first place, because that is the cheaper thing to remove.
Squirrel Trapping in Ely — £280 fixed cost. See the Ely service page →
A squirrel is an excellent climber but it is not a bird. It reaches a roof by a route, and on most properties there are only two or three of them.
The Routes Up
- An overhanging branch. The commonest by a wide margin. A squirrel will cross a gap of a couple of metres without much difficulty, so a branch does not need to touch the roof to be a bridge.
- A climbing plant. Ivy in particular, which is a ladder on the way up and cover once they are there. Wisteria, climbing roses and mature honeysuckle all serve.
- Trellis and wall-mounted planting.
- A fence run meeting the building, which gives a raised approach straight to a wall or a low roof.
- Drainpipes, particularly older cast iron with brackets, and any pipe boxed into a corner.
- An adjoining structure — a garage roof, a shed, a bin store, a boundary wall, a lean-to.
- The wall itself, where the render or brick is rough enough. Less common, and it does happen.
Why this is the cheapest thing on the list. Cutting a branch back and taking ivy off a wall costs an afternoon and a pair of loppers. Meshing a roofline costs somebody at height with materials. Both are worth doing, but only one of them can be done this weekend for nothing — and on a good number of properties it removes the route entirely.
How Far Back Is Far Enough?
There is no official figure and we are not going to invent one. What is true practically is that a squirrel crosses a gap easily, so trimming a branch to just clear the gutter is not enough — take it well back, and consider the height it can jump down from as well as across.
The same applies to ivy: cutting it at the base and leaving the dead growth in place leaves the ladder there. It has to come off the wall.
The Ones People Miss
- A neighbour's tree, which is not yours to cut and needs a conversation rather than loppers
- A fence you added that now runs to the building
- A new shed or bin store placed against a wall
- A trellis put up for a plant that is now a permanent ladder
- An adjoining garage whose roof gives access to the main roof at eaves level
- Scaffolding, during work, which is a temporary but very effective route
What It Does Not Replace
Removing the route reduces the chance of it happening again. It does not deal with an animal already in the roof space, and it does not close an opening that has already been made — another squirrel arriving by another means will find it.
So the order is: deal with the animal, confirm the roof space is clear, proof the openings in metal, and remove the route up. The last of those is the one you can do yourself, and it is worth doing whatever else happens.
Common Questions
How do squirrels get onto the roof?
Usually an overhanging branch, a climbing plant such as ivy, a fence run meeting the building, a drainpipe, or an adjoining garage, shed or wall.
How far back should I cut a branch?
Well back. A squirrel crosses a gap of a couple of metres easily, so trimming to just clear the gutter is not enough, and it can drop down from above as well as jump across.
Is cutting the tree back enough on its own?
It reduces the chance of it happening again but it does not deal with an animal already in the roof, or close an opening that has been made. Another squirrel arriving another way would find it.
What if it is a neighbour's tree?
Then it is a conversation rather than something to cut. It is worth raising, because it is frequently the whole of the route.
Squirrel Trapping in Ely
Tell us what you have found and where. We confirm the treatment and the price before anything is booked.
More on Squirrel Trapping in Ely
The service page for Ely, the other advice for this area, and every price we charge.
Is That Noise in the Loft a Grey Squirrel? A Ely Identification Guide
Before assuming squirrel, it is worth going through the list — because two of the possibilities are legally protected and one is not an animal.
Read the guide →Squirrel or Rat in the Loft? How Ely Homeowners Can Tell the Difference
The two animals use a roof space differently, and the geography of the evidence gives them away.
Read the guide →How Are Grey Squirrels Removed From Loft Spaces in Ely?
Here is what the price covers and, more usefully, the four things it does not — so nothing about the invoice is a surprise.
Read the guide →How Much Does Squirrel Trapping Cost in Cambridge?
£280 Fixed Cost
Every price we charge, what it covers and what happens on the day.
Read the price guide →Squirrel Trapping Across Cambridgeshire
The main Squirrel Control Cambridge page covers the service in full.
Squirrel Trapping in Ely
Tell us what you have seen and where, and we will give you the treatment and the price before anything is booked.