Trapping Grey Squirrels
The quality and simplicity of many modern squirrel traps has made it easier than ever to control the worrying advance of the grey squirrel in Britain, but without following a few simple guidelines, even the most determined trapper will struggle to make an impact on these pests.
Perhaps the most important thing to consider when planning an attempt to catch grey squirrels is what other animal species are present in the trapping environment. Dormice, polecats and pine martens are all protected by law, and many trapping regimes are designed to protect the native red squirrel.
If you plan to trap in an area where any of these species are present, it is a good idea to use a humane cage trap. This way, you can selectively release any non target species as soon as they are caught.
Cage traps come in a variety of different shapes and sizes, and we supply a Double Entry or a Single Entry trap, both of which are made from long lasting galvanised steel mesh.
In some situations, grey squirrels will be coming into gardens where they are used to seeing shiny metal, and in these locations, little camouflage is needed.Simply position the trap in a spot that is easy to check, then bait it with bread crusts, peanuts or bird seed.
All traps need to be checked at least once a day, so plan a convenient way of checking your traps, and take some time to make them easily accessible.
In wilder and more secluded woodland, you will have to pay more attention to the appearance of your trap, and you may want to camouflage the cage with local leaves, vegetation and sticks.
Before using your trap, leave it outside for a few days so that it will lose its human smell, and once it has become "weathered", handle it with gloves.
In an environment where there are no protected species, and where red squirrels have vanished, lethal spring traps are extremely efficient.
The mechanism of a Solway Mk.6 Spring Trap has been scientifically demonstrated to kill quickly and humanely, and these traps are an affordable and efficient way of taking control of grey squirrel populations.
Lethal spring traps must be used in tunnels so that they do not pose a risk to birds, pets or humans, and a simple open ended wooden box is quick and easy to make.
Driving pegs vertically through the mouths of the tunnel will stop even the most inquisitive cat or dog from coming to any harm. As with cage traps, spring traps need to be weathered, and this can be done artificially by boiling them in a pot with tea for an hour, then allowing them to steep overnight in the brew.
The following morning, the traps will not only have lost their oily grease, but they will also have become mottled and brown, camouflaging them perfectly against the natural surroundings.
Spring traps can be set in boxes which are mounted on trees, and provided that they are well baited, they should account for grey squirrels from day one.
A more advanced trap than the standard Solway Spring is the Kania 2000, which can either be camouflaged, baited and used on the ground, or mounted in a custom built wooden box and placed in a tree.
One of the most important things to remember about trapping grey squirrels is that whether or not you use lethal spring traps or humane cage traps, all captured squirrels must be humanely despatched. When you consider the damage caused by grey squirrels to our native flora and fauna, this is without doubt the correct course of action.
The Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) made it illegal to release grey squirrels into the wild, and anyone caught doing so is subject to an unlimited fine. You should always plan how you would dispose of a live squirrel well in advance to reduce stress and suffering in the captured animal.
