As November settles in across the Erewash and Trent valleys, two very different garden invaders are both becoming more active: moles pushed up by saturated ground, and grey squirrels hunting for a warm, dry loft before the cold properly bites. In Long Eaton, Sandiacre, Clifton and Ruddington, NestBusters is already seeing both show up on the same streets – sometimes in the same garden.
Moles on the move in Long Eaton and Sandiacre
Long Eaton’s playing fields and the green verges backing onto the Erewash Canal towpath hold damp, worm-rich soil that moles find irresistible once autumn rain soaks in. Residents near West Park and the canal-side allotments in Sandiacre have been reporting fresh molehills appearing almost overnight on lawns that were flat a week earlier. A single mole can throw up a dozen or more hills in a short stretch of garden while it extends its tunnel network in search of food, and the disturbed, loosened soil can quickly kill off patches of grass and destabilise raised beds or paving edges.
Grey squirrels eyeing lofts in Clifton and Ruddington
Meanwhile in Clifton and Ruddington, the mature trees along Clifton Grove and the woodland fringes of Rushcliffe Country Park are shedding their last cover for the year, and grey squirrels are actively scouting for somewhere warmer to shelter. Older semis and bungalows near Ruddington’s recreation ground and the Clifton estate’s tree-lined closes are particularly exposed – squirrels are strong, persistent climbers that can exploit a gap at the roofline, a loose ridge tile, or a damaged soffit board to get into a loft space. Once inside, they strip insulation, chew through cables and timber, and can cause far more structural damage in a few weeks than most homeowners expect.
Telling the signs apart
Moles leave their calling card above ground: distinct conical mounds of fine, crumbly soil, usually in a line or cluster, with no entrance hole visible (the mole works entirely underground). You may also notice slightly raised, soft ridges running across the lawn between the hills – these are shallow surface tunnels.
Squirrels, by contrast, are heard before they’re seen. Listen for scratching, scampering or gnawing noises in the loft or roof space, especially around dawn and dusk. Outside, look for chewed timber at the eaves, droppings along loft joists, and debris such as shredded insulation or stripped bark near a possible entry point.
What to do about it
A few molehills on an otherwise healthy lawn aren’t an emergency, but a rapidly spreading network is worth addressing before it undermines paths, patios or fencing. For squirrels, time matters more: the longer they’re left, the more damage accumulates, and a loft that’s been used once tends to attract repeat visits in future winters unless entry points are properly sealed.
NestBusters covers Long Eaton, Sandiacre, Clifton, Ruddington and the surrounding areas, with humane, effective treatment for both moles and grey squirrels and a focus on long-term prevention rather than a quick fix. If you’ve spotted molehills appearing on your lawn or heard movement in your loft, give us a call on 0742 984 9483 or visit nottinghampest.co.uk to book an inspection.
