Grey Squirrels are known to cause extensive damage to our native broadleaf habitat. When looking at placing the trap into woodland, parkland or your garden, we recommend choosing an established broad leaved tree, fence or post that sees regular grey squirrel activity. Once installed as per the quick start guide, a couple of handfuls of peanuts, sunflower seeds or maize, scattered at the base of your chosen tree will help to create a feeding area that grey squirrels associate with food. This can be repeated on a weekly basis, to build the grey squirrels confidence and visit the area regularly.

The Hazelnut lure provided with the trap is a good starting point for most environments; its long life and hazelnut base remain attractive to grey squirrels for extended periods. Like all trapping though, we see seasonal changes in diet and feeding routine. Should you wish to try a different food in the trap, such as peanut butter, crushed walnuts or hazelnut butter, this can easily be done using the provided lure basket. Engaging with the trap and field craft is a vital part of any trapping regime, should your quarry be feeding on an established food source in the area; it can sometimes prove easier to use this to trap them, than trying to introduce a competing food source.

As with any trap, it is vital we do all we can to limit non-target interaction with it. Our A18GS humane squirrel trap has an entrance tunnel of only 5.4cm, the smallest entrance of any squirrel trap currently available in the UK. We have hundreds of hours of footage that monitored the interaction of the grey squirrel, during this time, no birds or non-targets interacted with the trap. Tree Creepers, Nut Hatches, Tits and Woodpeckers were seen in the back drop, but not near the trap. Be mindful of non-target species such as Dormice, Pine Martens and Red Squirrels; with these species present, we do not condone the use of our A18Gs or any other lethal trap. If they are present, live traps such as a squirrel cage trap will enable any non-target species which is caught, to be released without harm.

Grey Squirrels have a varied diet; they will use the tree canopy to travel to feeding areas as this is far safer than traveling across the ground. With this in mind, field-craft is the key to any trapping campaign. If a trap is mechanically sound, it is up to the operator to ensure success. Below, we have summarised a walk-through on how to get the most from your Goodnature A18 grey squirrel trap.

Where should I put my Goodnature Squirrel Trap?

Placement will depend on your setting: an urban garden, young compartment, or established woodland. Squirrels will use trees to move through areas, then climb down them to forage and feed.

A good starting point is a mature tree with an interconnected canopy that allows them to access it from other trees, fences, or structures. Often, a squirrel will feel trapped if chased up a tree, which has no means of escape. In addition, squirrels will generally avoid undergrowth for fear of predation, so the base of the chosen tree should be clear and the vegetation short.

Garden Positioning

When installing the trap in a garden setting, aim to put the A18 on a tree you have seen squirrels on and you know they use regularly. Should you not have a tree, they can be placed on a fence post or other suitable structure such as a garden shed. It is essential that if placed on a fence without a Trap Guard, it is positioned so that they have to climb down at least 12 inches to access it. If the trap is set so the top of the A18 is in line with the top of the fence, it may well get chewed, as they can sit on the fence comfortably and engage with the trap from above. Consider fixing a piece of wood that sticks up above the top of the fence where squirrels often run; this means they will run underneath the trap entrance and are more likely to engage with the trap from the correct angle.

Woodland – Young Vulnerable Compartments

One of the main reasons we manage squirrel populations is for the protection of native broad-leaf woodland. Young trees such as Hornbeam, Oak, Beech, etc., are especially vulnerable to bark stripping and crown damage during their first 25 years of growth. Therefore, squirrel populations need to be managed to mitigate damage where possible. For example, if we consider a young compartment block as a loft in a house. The loft does not have a rat problem, but we fear one may be likely. While we do not want an infestation in the attic, we should not put baited traps there; otherwise, we actively pull rodents into this space. The same applies to a young woodland compartment.

Squirrels will not be living in the young trees; they will only venture in to feed; in these conditions, it is far better to trap them on the outskirts before entering the young woodland. Choose mature trees that are close to the vulnerable compartment. Often trees on rides are productive; they have a clear under storey, squirrels can bury food items and forage.

Pre-bait the area with whole maize; it is equally as effective as peanuts, more economical, and doesn’t tend to attract badgers quite so much.

Throughout the trapping campaign, I suggest a handful of maize scattered around the base of the trees that have traps attached; every trap visit. Grey Squirrels are creatures of habit; if we create an area with a known food source, such as hoppers, garden bird feeders, and game bird feed, they will visit, often daily.

A pivotal point to consider regarding young compartments is full canopy closure. As the trees start to grow and fill out, especially after a thin to waste or first thinning, they are at their most vulnerable. At this point, squirrels feel safe to travel through the canopy and start to strip bark to feed on the sap in June/July, when it is most dense in the crown. You will often see small trial patches where squirrels have removed roughly 3×3 inch bark sections to gauge how much sap is present. During this time, evidence suggests that they are looking for the sheer quantity of sap, not quality and sugar content.

Woodland – Mature Woodland

When trapping in established, mixed broadleaf woodland, I suggest starting in problem areas and trapping at a density of 2-3 traps per site. This method helps to mitigate incorrect placement and ensure you can engage with the traps easily and more efficiently. Moving forward, one trap per hectare is the standard approach, much like live cage trapping.

Should the campaign be escalated to landscape scale, it’s conceivable that a low impact management plan can be delivered at a density of 1 trap per 3-5 hectares. As with all grey squirrel management, I believe we have a wealth of experience, old and new, that we should draw on to best manage the threat that grey squirrels pose. With this in mind, all legal traps, shooting and more holistic approaches should also be considered, as part of an integrated management plan.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Goodnature Grey Squirrel Trap

What are the best practice tips to achieve success with the A18 trap?

We’ve designed our traps to be simple to use.  All you need to do is follow the instructions in the A18 Quick Start Guide precisely to set up the trap. Then resist the urge to change the setup or location or lure until at least a fortnight has passed.  Grey squirrels, like all animals, have complex behavior patterns. Constantly moving the trap or changing the lure is just as likely to be the reason you don’t have success as the reason you do.  Although you may feel like you’re having a slow start, the more time you invest in getting the trap set up correct initially and trusting that the trap and lure works, the more success you’ll have.  Why not let the trap do all the hard work?

The risk of injury to non-target animals and none humane interaction may  increase if the trap is used in a manner that does not follow our best practice guide.  See Non-Target Species for more information.

Where should I locate my A18 trap?

The trap should always be set as close to vertical as possible, to ensure humane interaction. In a Woodland area, the A18 should be sited in areas where there is known Grey Squirrel activity.  It is ideal if the A18 can be fixed to a tree that produces a food source for Grey Squirrels. This means they will travel to the tree often and look to feed. In a garden situation, the A18 can be fixed to a tree or a fence post.

What height should I set the A18?

Always set the A18 at 1.5 meters or above, either on a tree or fence, and as close to vertical as possible.  Setting the A18 lower than 1.5 meters may potentially enable other species to interact with it.

How many squirrels should I expect to catch and how quickly?

Every location will be different.  Grey squirrel movements, populations and behavior vary throughout the year.  Provided the trap is properly maintained and located, it will always be ready and waiting as a constant control measure.  There is no set time limit on attracting a grey squirrel into the trap. Sometimes you might see grey squirrels go near, but not into the A18. However, if there is heavy squirrel activity in the area and no grey squirrels are caught in the first 4 weeks, you might consider changing the lure.  

Should I change the lure if I haven’t caught anything in the first 4 weeks?

Grey Squirrels can be very fussy eaters and their diet will change throughout the year.  However, the Goodnature lures have been scientifically formulated to appeal to grey squirrels and independent tests have proven they work.  Most customers achieve success with our lures.

In the event you have not caught a squirrel in the first 4 weeks and there has been heavy squirrel activity in the area, we have provided a lure basket so you have the option of trying different lures that may better attract your local squirrel population (e.g. peanut butter, hazelnut butter, crushed walnuts).  Please refer to the non-target tab for tips on how to minimise risk of attracting non-target species.

How often should I change the lure?

While our lures are long life, they will eventually crust over or diminish in their scent when exposed to air.  Once every 10-14 days, remove and discard the spent lure from the basket and refresh with new lure from the lure pouch. Always remember any quality humane pest control device is only as effective as the quality of the lure used to attract the pest.  It is the lure that motivates the target pest to enter and activate the trap. The fresher the lure the better the smell and better chance of success.

The Digital Strike Counter is registering, so why haven’t I seen any dispatched squirrels?

Scavenging is a frequent occurrence so it is unlikely you will see everything that is dispatched.  The beauty of the A18 is that it resets. Once a squirrel has been dispatched, it will fall out of the trap and onto the ground. Here it is likely to be scavenged by other animals such as foxes, birds of prey or corvids.

What is the best season to catch grey squirrels?

It is often deemed that March through to September offers the best time to control grey squirrels. One of the great things about the A18 is it is ready all year round with minimal maintenance, so it is possible to catch them all year round.

How should I dispose of a dispatched grey squirrel?

As the A18 is a non-toxic trap the squirrel can be left to be scavenged and feed other wildlife. However, if you wish to move them, they can be placed elsewhere in the woodland. Please dispose of dispatched animals responsibly.

Will a dispatched squirrel under the trap deter others?

Wild animals are used to coming across deceased animals in nature, seeing another squirrel under the trap doesn’t put them off.

How many strikes does each Co2 cylinder hold?

Each Co2 cylinder holds enough Co2 for circa 18 strikes or 6-months, whichever comes soonest.

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