Red squirrel nesting in the loft

[nectarine]

A red squirrel has been appearing at our lounge windowsill and I now find that he has made his nest in our loft, getting access through the bargeboard and next to our chimney ... presumably it's nice and warm up there. Now I know that squirrels can be a nuisance but I'm reluctant to disturb it in case it is preparing to have some young ... can anyone tell me when squirrels normally have their babies and when they leave the nest. Only then might I think about covering up the hole and letting the squirrel find somewhere else, perhaps the barn, to live.

[odile]

I HATE saying it - but if I were you I would discourage it straightaway from settling in. We had squirrels in our roof in the UK and my hesitation cost us a lot of aggravation and money. We tried every method, sand buckets with bleach and Jeyes fluid,  strips of metal foil, lights, noise - but once established with the first brood we just couldn;t get rid. the noise early morning was disturbing, but mainly they started chewing electric wires, etc. We got a roofer in to repair regularly, but as soon as he had reparied one bit, they would open up another. In the end, OH borrowed a gun from a friend, practised on can for a few days, then shot them all. We then had to replace the whole rood to prevent more coming. Hope Chris will confirm that it is too early for them to have young - so hopefully will deter them before they have settled in too well.

[Bugsy]

I think Red Squirrels are a protected species, aren't they.

.

[TWINKLE]

[quote user="odile"] In the end, OH borrowed a gun from a friend, practised on can for a few days, then shot them all. [/quote]

[:(]

[TWINKLE]

I trained my squirrels to help me bring in the shopping! 

Well - as long as they're living under my roof then they should help out with the chores like everyone else[:)]

[suein56]

[quote user="odile"] In the end, OH borrowed a gun from a friend, practised on can for a few days, then shot them all. [/quote]

Crikey, please don't say you killed red squirrels - even though they were causing you problems a happier solution could have been found I am sure.

In France, IIRC, they are not protected as they are still fairly numerous; but in the UK they are protected in that if there is a problem with them you need to acquire a licence to be able to proceed with having them removed.

See here :

"In the UK the red squirrel is protected by the Wildlife and Countryside

Act of 1981, and is a Priority Species, and therefore the subject of a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP), under the government's response to the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity."

Sue

[odile]

NO- they were greys in the UK- but for me it was a personal tragedy, but unavoidable. I can't see why it is cruel to kill greys but not reds. I don't do racism. We tried for 3 years every kind of deterrent - but as the squirrels had established territory and had raised young, it was impossible to eter them. Our roof tiles were weakened at the top, but perfe ctly OK if left alone - but the thinning meant that they would re-open elsewhere. We had pest controllers round in the end, as we kept having electrical problems as squirrels were chewing wires. I was devastated. They put poison down and killed 2 - I just couldn't stand it. OH shot them clean, and only the ones which inhabited the roof- after much observation. It was awful but the best solution (yest I know stricly not legal). We then spent a HUGE sum of money re-doing the whole roof, felting and battons. We still have squirrels (greys) in the garden - but not in the roof. What I am saying is that it is much better to deter straightaway, before they establish territory. Observe behaviour carefully for a few days- count them and block entry when they are out. And listen carefully for next few days to make sure none trapped.

[suein56]

[quote user="odile"]NO- they were greys in the UK- but for me it was a personal tragedy, but unavoidable. I can't see why it is cruel to kill greys but not reds. I don't do racism.  [/quote]

I don't do racism either but, AFAIAA, the red squirrel is a native of the UK but the grey squirrel is not. This latter was introduced from elsewhere - I believe from the USA in the 19th C - and as such caused real problems for the native species, leading to their decline, hence the 'need' to protect them. The nouveaux arrivés being more agressive than the 'red' native.

Sue

nth/early twentieth century. Their success has been to the

Grey sGrey squirrels

are en species and toduced to n /early twentieth century. Their of .an alien and were introduced to the UK from the USA in the

late nineteenth/early twentieth century. Their success has been to the

detriment of our native red squirrels.detriment of our native red squirrels

[odile]

of course, I understand that. But I do find it strange that people who 'adore' some animals, can 'hate' others with a passion - for instance because they are not a native species. making the decision to cull those greys was extremely difficult for me. Some people who love their dogs, terriers, etc - do take huge pleasure in killing other animals (often with great cost to their own dogs-) - I always find these double standards bizarre. Why is it beautiful and fascinating to see a bird of prey take a small bird- but absolutely sick if a squirrel takes an egg from a nest?

I do understand that it may be necessary to cull one species (usually non-native) to protect another (usually native- be it geese or shrimps, etc).

As a badger specialist I know that it is VERY difficult to deter animals that have established territory. And I have learnt the hard way about squirrels - doesn't matter if it is greys or reds - don't let them establish territory were they are not wanted when they first arrive- or you may have to take drastic measures later- which is definitely not pleasant.

[ventodue]

[quote user="suein56"] <snip> The nouveaux arrivés being more agressive than the 'red' native.

SueUSA in the late nineteenth/early twentieth century. Their success has been to the detriment of our native red squirrels.detriment of our native red squirrels
[/quote]

I hope you don't mind me saying [:)], but it's not quite that simple, to be honest.

Certainly, to quote the Scottish Biodiversity Action Pan for Red Squirrels, "the presence of grey squirrels is detrimental to the local red squirrel population"; but the exact reasons for this continue to prove somewhat elusive. Current research points to a number of factors:

1.  Greys are better able to use certain food sources, particularly acorns and, critically, hazelnuts before they mature. Jessica Holm was one of the people to work this out (she has written a monograph on Red Squirrels, btw.)

2.  Greys carry the parapox virus, but they seem to be immune to it while Reds are not.  It's possible that the virus came in with the Greys.

3.  Greys are much more at home in small areas of woodland or in patchy habitat.  However, Reds like bigger areas of woodland - which is one of the reasons you see Greys in suburban gardens, but not Reds.

As I said, I'm not trying to be a smart guy - just hoping to contribute something useful.  Go here for more info http://www.snh.org.uk/ukredsquirrelgroup/default.asp

Regards

Craig

[suein56]

[quote user="ventodue"]

[quote user="suein56"] <snip> The nouveaux arrivés being more agressive than the 'red' native.

SueUSA in the late nineteenth/early twentieth century. Their success has been to the detriment of our native red squirrels.detriment of our native red squirrels

[/quote]

I hope you don't mind me saying [:)], but it's not quite that simple, to be honest.

Regards

Craig[/quote]

Not at all, delighted you could continue what I had started ... here the phone rang and rang, went off, and then rang again, so I thought I had better answer it.,

What I had hoped to expand on was the aggressive nature of the grey's vis a vis acquiring food. It was this: from here that prompted my thought.

"Grey squirrels

are also thought to steal nuts and seeds from red squirrel winter stores. This results in weight

loss in red squirrels and therefore reduced breeding success, as red squirrels need good body fat

reserves in order to produce and successfully rear young in Spring."

Sue

[nectarine]

Interesting thread and I acknowledge that squirrels can be a nuisance, but as the red is still quite rare then I don't want to block its nest if it is settling with young. So back to the original question ... when do squirrels have and rear their young and at what time of the year would it be safe to assume that all the young have left?

[Bugsy]

Good site HERE with all the details.

.

[suein56]

[quote user="nectarine"]Interesting thread and I acknowledge that squirrels can be a nuisance, but as the red is still quite rare then I don't want to block its nest if it is settling with young. [/quote]

But as Odile said: it might be a good idea to discourage them from settling in your loft.

[quote user="nectarine"]So back to the original question ... when do squirrels have and rear their young and at what time of the year would it be safe to assume that all the young have left?[/quote]

This site is about Scottish squirrels.

"Reproduction begins as early as January, when one or more males will

chase a female, making spectacular leaps through the forest canopy and

spiralling up and down the trunks of trees. After mating, pregnancy

lasts for 38 days and the young, or kittens, are born naked and blind,

weighing about 28 gm. and 2.5 cm. in length. The litter averages three

in size, although there can be as many as five young, and a female will

have one or two litters a year, depending on the availability of food.

The kittens gain their body hair after 3 weeks and their eyes open

after about 30 days. They are cared for solely by the female, and are

weaned at 9 weeks. They gain their adult coats at 3-4 months, by which

time they are fully independent. Females reach sexual maturity after

one year, and individuals can live for six years in the wild, although

many young squirrels do not survive their first winter if the

conditions are harsh."

Sue

[odile]

It depends very much on your location and climate. is there any way you could hve access to the drey to see if there are young already. In young are present I would agree you must let them stay, But if there aren't - exclude them asap to make sure they do not establish territory. It really is best in the long term. Red er greys can do serious damage. do you have any electrical wiring up there?

[ventodue]

[quote user="suein56"]

 It was this: from here that prompted my thought.

"Grey squirrels are also thought to steal nuts and seeds from red squirrel winter stores. This results in weight loss in red squirrels and therefore reduced breeding success, as red squirrels need good body fat reserves in order to produce and successfully rear young in Spring."

Sue [/quote]

Ah, but note the use of the weasel words, "... are also thought to ...".  To which we must always reply, "And your evidence of this is what, exactly?"

( I ain't saying they do, and I ain't saying they don't - but "are thought to" can't be given much credence, I hope you'll agree! [:)]

Cheers

Craig

[ventodue]

[quote user="nectarine"]when do squirrels have and rear their young[/quote]

Spring, so pretty soon now (we hope!).

[quote user="nectarine"]and at what time of the year would it be safe to assume that all the young have left?[/quote]

Late autumn.

Me, I'd set to blocking up now ...

Cheers

Craig

[Clair]

Squirrels blamed for house fire

[odile]

when we had damage done to  (brand new) re-wiring - the electricians warned us of the danger and that the Insurance would NOT cover us in case of fire as squirrels are vermin from the insurance . of view. this is when we finally took our decision, and it was VERY hard for us to do - even though they were 'just greys' - again I would like to say animals are not guilty of the stupidity of introductions, and/or the cards dealt them by nature, be they hyenas or indeed greys.

[Just Katie]

[quote user="nectarine"]

"Reproduction begins as early as January, when one or more males will chase a female, making spectacular leaps through the forest canopy and spiralling up and down the trunks of trees. After mating, pregnancy lasts for 38 days Sue
[/quote]

I wish I was a squirrel.

[TWINKLE]

[:D]

You're SO maternal JK!

[Just Katie]

Well well, look who's posting. 

[TWINKLE]

[quote user="Just Katie"]Well well, look who's posting. [/quote]

Hello stranger!

I would pay good money to hear him say that one day in French[:)]

[cooperlola]

Hi you two.  Where have you been hibernating then? (I'm trying to stay vaguely on topic by using the h word.)

[Just Katie]

Hi Coops,  we have been squirrelling about on facebook.  I have decided to return as there are more nuts over here.