Since their introduction into Britain in the 1870s grey squirrels have spread rapidly. They have displaced the red squirrel throughout most of England and Wales and in southeast and central Scotland.

Grey squirrels can cause serious problems for foresters, native wildlife and gamekeepers. The bark stripping from tree trunks during the months of May and June, damages stands of timber and natural woodland.
In spring, the taking of eggs and young chicks can be devastating for songbird and ground nesting bird populations. Damage to hoppers, feed bins and water pipes can cause serious and costly shoot management problems.

.. The grey squirrel is also a significant factor in the decline of the native  red squirrel population in the UK. Greys can carry the squirrel pox virus. And although they are are relatively unaffected themselves  t the disease causes considerable suffering and death to the red squirrel –which is already severely threatened and extinct in may parts of the UK..

Grey squirrels have limited legal protection and can be controlled all year round by a variety of methods including shooting, trapping and poisoning.  It is an offence under section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) to introduce and release grey squirrels into the wild. Under the provisions of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 any person responsible for a squirrel trap, would only be responsible for any animal caught by it but not its offspring still in the wild. Under the act, it is an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to a kept animal (this includes live caught animals).

Methods of Control

Drey Poking

At different times of the year the control of squirrels can take different forms. With the leaf off the trees, winter is a good time for shooting.

Drey poking can be effective, especially on cold winter days,. A team of four, with two working the poles and two covering the tree can spend a day clearing a lot of dreys in a wood. When all the dreys are cleared from a wood in winter it becomes easy to spot i new ones made in the summer.
There are a few rules you must adhere to when carrying out this activity. Safety is paramount; guns should stand well back from the tree. When using the poles tap the bottom of the drey gently, this will allow the squirrel to run out slowly, it will probably stop just outside which will give the guns time to shoot.  Never shoot at a squirrel running down a tree, it is better to either let it run down and run away from you or stop it and turn it back up the tree. Remember you are aiming to cull squirrels, so be efficient and effective.

This method is only one part of a fully effective control programme, as grey squirrels killed at this time of the year will be replaced before the summer.

Tunnel trapping using spring traps

Spring traps are a very useful tool in catching squirrels. Set correctly these traps will effectively catch squirrels moving between trees. Look for the signs of squirrel movement, a common sight is the flat circle around the base of the tree where squirrels run around sometimes chasing each other.
The law and best practice requires you to:

• Use the appropriate approved spring trap for your quarry.
• Enclose your trap within a natural or artificial tunnel
• Firmly anchor your trap
• Check your traps at least once a day

Spring traps should be set in accordance with BASC’s trapping pest mammals code of practice.

Live cage trapping

Live cage traps, either single or multi catch, involve attracting squirrels to a trap with a bait (food). These can be used in the same way as spring traps. Set at the base of trees and covered with logs. It is best to pre bait these traps, leaving the entrances open so that the squirrels can run freely for a few days before setting.

The density of traps required depends on whether single or multi- capture traps are used.

Single traps should be spaced 75-125m apart, multi traps 150-200m apart,  equating to one trap per ha. In areas where it is difficult to draw squirrels to the ground -  for example, pine mixtures, or where traps are disturbed by badgers, deer or wild boar - it may be necessary to site traps on platforms on the trees.

Captured squirrels should be humanely destroyed by guiding them to one end of the trap, where they can be killed with an air rifle or the traps can be emptied into a sack and the squirrels dispatched through a swift, heavy blow to the head. Non target species should be released immediately.

All TRAPS SHOULD BE CHECKED ONCE A DAY.

BASC recommends where possible twice a day, especially with cage traps. Any trapped squirrels should be removed before dark, this will stop any disturbance to the trap from badgers or foxes which may damage the cages and potentially cause unnecessary suffering to caught squirrels.

Warfarin Poisoning

Warfarin poison may only be used out of doors against grey squirrels for tree protection and only between 15 March and 15 August. A successful poisoning operation will be at least as effective as cage trapping, even though few, if any, dead squirrels will be found.

Warfarin must not be used outdoors where red squirrels or pine martens occur. Operators must be trained before using warfarin.

The Grey Squirrels (Warfarin) Order 1973 permits the poisoning of grey squirrels with the anticoagulant warfarin for the purpose of tree protection.

The bait used is the 0.02% warfarin (Grey Squirrel Bait MAPP no.13020) may be used. The approval for Grey Squirrel Liquid Concentrate MAFF no. 06455 has been revoked.

Hoppers should be distributed throughout the control area and at a density of one hopper to 1-4 ha, depending on the intensity of control.  Hoppers may be placed at the base of a tree or stump with the tunnel tilted slightly down to prevent water flowing into the tunnel.  Hoppers should be checked regularly to ensure the hoppers are not empty and the bait is running free.  Generally squirrels die in their dreys but the area should be searched at each visit, particularly under dreys with carcasses removed and incinerated.

Shooting

Shooting of grey squirrels can be a very effective method of control, especially in early spring when young shoots are showing in trees. On a sunny day grey squirrels will work in the outmost branches of a tree and chew the new shoots, they can become easy targets.

The best weapon for this form of control would be an air rifle, it is not recommended to shoot at the angles provided with a .22 rimfire. However, a powerful air rifle (less than 12 ft/llb can and will perform adequately. A rimfire rifle would be more suitable for shooting squirrels on the ground around the base of a tree where a safe backstop is provided.

This also works for shooting with shotguns, around the base of a tree and shooting into the lower branches of a tree a shotgun will kill squirrels humanly, rather than shooting high into the tops and wounding unnecessarily.  Remember, as with all shooting, assess your background before taking any shot. If in doubt don’t shoot.

Disposal of carcasses

Unless you intend to eat them, all dead squirrels should be deeply buried or incinerated. Where Warfarin is used all carcasses – including those that have been trapped or shot - should be disposed of in accordance with the statutory conditions relating to the use of Warfarin. Any carcasses showing signs of squirrel pox virus (scabs around eyes, nose, mouth and feet) should be sent to the State Veterinary Service for investigation.  Gloves should be worn when handling potentially infected animals.