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Original poster

What's got into my roof? Help!

56 replies

BatsPigeonsRatsSquirrels · 09/02/2023 23:29

There is something scurrying around above my bathroom ceiling. We can't see anything when we look in the attic, I think it's between the ceiling and the attic flooring. There's a hole in the wall outside - there used to be a pipe coming out of the outside wall, but when the old water tank was removed it just left a small hole on the wall up above the bathroom window. Now it's a slightly bigger hole, and I have visitors.
I'm too chicken to go up a ladder and look inside. Who is this a job for? Do I ask for pest control before getting a roofer maybe? I've no idea what to do. The bathroom has been "done" so I really don't want them damaging the ceiling, or landing on me when I'm in the bath.

OP posts:
RomansTheyGoTheHouse · 10/02/2023 06:29

I had squirrels once and they were a pita to get rid of because it took ages to find and block all the holes while they were out.

They tore a hole though the ceiling into the bathroom, little buggers.

RM2013 · 10/02/2023 08:10

Definitely phone the council. My brother recently had rats in his loft. He heard noises and wasn’t sure if it was squirrels. The rat man came out (I know there’s probably a proper word for it!!) and apparently what was happening is that they were basically using his loft as their toilet - there was no nest there but they were coming and going just to use the “facilities” it was a bit of a nightmare but he managed to get it sorted

hope it’s nothing sinister. Hopefully just a bird got stuck or something

Original poster
BatsPigeonsRatsSquirrels · 10/02/2023 08:14

I am now very worried.
what kind of tradesperson would repair the hole? It's in the wall below the roof, rather than the roof itself.

OP posts:
RM2013 · 10/02/2023 08:42

Oh bless you. Try and find out what’s got in and make sure if there is anything nesting there out before getting the hole repaired. Is the hole in the fascia or brickwork?
I remember a neighbour having a hole in her fascia and it was birds that had made the hole to make a nest just inside the roof. Hope you can get some answers today

Original poster
BatsPigeonsRatsSquirrels · 10/02/2023 09:08

Have looked again and it's not the wall, it's in a bit sticking out.. I'll try to attach a photo

What's got into my roof? Help!
OP posts:
Catnary · 10/02/2023 09:17

Can you buy a camera and film the comings and goings? You can get fairly cheap basic outside security ones on Amazon. I used one to find out what was digging in my window boxes..

What's got into my roof? Help!
DogInATent · 10/02/2023 09:20

Mice, rats or squirrels. Leaving an open hole in the fabric of the house has handed them an invitation, but they can get into any house and it's quite normal. There's nothing to be immediately worried about, they're not going to drop through the ceiling. But you do need to get rid of them, they can cause damage. You can either call out a pest controller, or pop your head through the loft hatch and put some bait blocks down yourself.

You need to get the hole fixed as soon as possible - any builder, roofer, possibly a local handyman can fix the hole.

Saisong · 10/02/2023 09:21

That's called a soffit, might help when describing to trades people. Good luck

Dogs4Ever · 10/02/2023 09:25

@Catnary 🤣 can't help but laugh at that! Cheeky fox in such a small box.

OP call council this morning, yes they will probably kill whatever it is but the damage it could do is enormous - even so far as chewing electric wires and causing a house fire. Ring up a general builder and ask them to patch the soffit, or some gutter cleaning companies will do it as well.

It's very common so don't panic.

Catnary · 10/02/2023 09:33

Dogs4Ever · 10/02/2023 09:25

@Catnary 🤣 can't help but laugh at that! Cheeky fox in such a small box.

OP call council this morning, yes they will probably kill whatever it is but the damage it could do is enormous - even so far as chewing electric wires and causing a house fire. Ring up a general builder and ask them to patch the soffit, or some gutter cleaning companies will do it as well.

It's very common so don't panic.

@Dogs4Ever I once found this buried in there - it’s a chicken fillet that must have been filched from a food bin 🤮. I imagine that foxy was not impressed that I didn’t my leave it there for her to come back to when she was ready for a snack.

I’ve given up trying to have flowers, they get destroyed almost instantly.

Dogs4Ever · 10/02/2023 09:44

Oh @Catnary that has made me laugh so much and is so disgusting at the same time 😂 My dog is known for dragging various carcasses out of the woods and eating them whilst growling at me telling me not to even think about taking away his treat.. 🤢

GreenLampOfLove · 10/02/2023 10:06

I'm going to say squirrel, I have had one take up residence two years in a row (not the same one!) and had them caught in a humane trap each time.

The last time, the cheeky bastard worked out how to get the peanut butter out of the trap without triggering it and made off with it along the fence 😂

Crappy photo attached!

What's got into my roof? Help!
DogInATent · 10/02/2023 10:26

I'm going to say squirrel, I have had one take up residence two years in a row (not the same one!) and had them caught in a humane trap each time.
You cannot legally release a grey squirrel in the UK. Even if caught in a humane trap, the requirement is to dispatch it.

GreenLampOfLove · 10/02/2023 10:47

DogInATent · 10/02/2023 10:26

I'm going to say squirrel, I have had one take up residence two years in a row (not the same one!) and had them caught in a humane trap each time.
You cannot legally release a grey squirrel in the UK. Even if caught in a humane trap, the requirement is to dispatch it.

Yes I know, I was just explaining the trap part, because that was quite funny...

Original poster
BatsPigeonsRatsSquirrels · 10/02/2023 11:39

The council can't come out for 5 weeks 😭 so I've tried a private firm and am waiting for a call back. It's totally silent there today, I'm sure it's empty - tempting to just get someone to block it up while he's out.

OP posts:
Catnary · 10/02/2023 13:09

DogInATent · 10/02/2023 10:26

I'm going to say squirrel, I have had one take up residence two years in a row (not the same one!) and had them caught in a humane trap each time.
You cannot legally release a grey squirrel in the UK. Even if caught in a humane trap, the requirement is to dispatch it.

Is this law enforced by a special Squirrel Extermination Squad division of the police, who go round arresting people who failed to kill squirrels? Are neighbours paid to snitch?

Are there Mr Loophole-style lawyers out there specialising in getting people off charges of Illegal Mercy to Squirrels?

wellpaddedintherear · 10/02/2023 13:17

We noticed we hadn’t lot of flies in our bathroom but couldn’t work out why
until our neighbour asked if we’d heard any noises from our attic
the old owners had laid carpet down in ours,so we hadnt
he had laid poison down in his attic and the rats had come into ours to die and rot-hence the flies
got rid of the 3 bodies and never had a problem since
the root cause was another neighbour storing food in his attic

DogInATent · 10/02/2023 17:32

Catnary · 10/02/2023 13:09

Is this law enforced by a special Squirrel Extermination Squad division of the police, who go round arresting people who failed to kill squirrels? Are neighbours paid to snitch?

Are there Mr Loophole-style lawyers out there specialising in getting people off charges of Illegal Mercy to Squirrels?

Show quote history

Yes, if you get caught they come round and hit you with a Slipper Limpet.

Original poster
BatsPigeonsRatsSquirrels · 10/02/2023 17:41

Well it's definitely a squirrel - dc stood watch in the garden and saw him nip onto the hole! I have some pest control coming but not till next week. Wish I could just get him to leave as otherwise he's going to be trapped 😢 Why is there a law saying they can't be released?

OP posts:
GreenLampOfLove · 10/02/2023 18:19

BatsPigeonsRatsSquirrels · 10/02/2023 17:41

Well it's definitely a squirrel - dc stood watch in the garden and saw him nip onto the hole! I have some pest control coming but not till next week. Wish I could just get him to leave as otherwise he's going to be trapped 😢 Why is there a law saying they can't be released?

You can always block up the hole when he's out!

Roselilly36 · 10/02/2023 18:32

Squirrels breed twice a year, so at this time of year they will try to get into roofs to have their babies, as it’s cold etc, then they will come back every season, They are an absolute menace, chew through rafters, wires etc. if you look in your loft, if it’s squirrels they will build a drey, looks like a messy wig wam type structure, it is true that if you catch a grey squirrel it’s illegal to release it.

Roselilly36 · 10/02/2023 18:40

BatsPigeonsRatsSquirrels · 10/02/2023 17:41

Well it's definitely a squirrel - dc stood watch in the garden and saw him nip onto the hole! I have some pest control coming but not till next week. Wish I could just get him to leave as otherwise he's going to be trapped 😢 Why is there a law saying they can't be released?

If the babies have already been born, they would die, and cause a stink in your loft. The reason it’s inhumane to release a grey squirrel is as you would need to take them out of the area, this would lead to death, as they would not be in the area where they had buried their food supply. They are not a recognised native species.

Original poster
BatsPigeonsRatsSquirrels · 10/02/2023 18:44

Thank you all, this is very informative - even if it's not nice to hear!

OP posts:
Mochudubh · 10/02/2023 18:50

Is it a red or a grey? It's only Grey's that need to be destroyed. If you're out with the Central Belt, chances are it's red so you just need to stop it coming back in.

scottishsquirrels.org.uk/