As temperatures drop and the clocks have gone back, two very different pests are both heading indoors across Radford, Lenton, Forest Fields, Wollaton, Bilborough and Aspley — and knowing the difference matters, because the damage, the risk, and the fix are not the same for each.
Rats: bins, drains and student terraces
Rats are creatures of opportunity, and late October gives them plenty of it. In Lenton and Radford, dense rows of Victorian terraces and shared student HMOs mean overflowing bins, takeaway packaging left in yards, and ageing drainage that rats exploit to move between properties almost unseen. A missing airbrick cover or a gap where a waste pipe passes through a wall is often all it takes.
In Forest Fields, similar terraced housing backs onto narrow alleyways and shared yards, which give rats a sheltered run between neighbouring gardens — meaning one house’s rat problem can quickly become the whole row’s. Over in Aspley, it is often estate housing with timber decking, garden sheds and compost bins that give rats cover close to the house, while commercial bin stores near Aspley’s local parades are a reliable autumn food source.
Signs to check for now, before a nest is established: dark greasy smear marks along skirting boards or fence tops, droppings (roughly the size of a grain of rice, with pointed ends) near bins or in sheds, and scratching or scuffling sounds from under floors or in cavity walls, usually most audible at dusk.
Grey squirrels: Wollaton Park and the loft void
Wollaton Park‘s deer park and mature woodland is one of the best grey squirrel habitats in the city, and every autumn some of that population looks for a warmer, drier place to overwinter — which all too often means a nearby loft in Wollaton or Bilborough. Squirrels are strong climbers and determined chewers: a loose ridge tile, a gap where a soffit has pulled away, or an overhanging branch within jumping distance of the roofline is usually enough for them to get in.
Once inside, the real damage isn’t just the mess. Squirrels will readily chew electrical wiring and strip insulation to build a nest, which is both a fire risk and an expensive repair. Homes in Bilborough backing onto green space, and those near Wollaton Park itself, are the ones we’d flag as highest risk this time of year. A gnawed hole the size of a tennis ball at roof level, scratching noises moving around in daylight (unlike the more nocturnal rat), and chewed wiring insulation found during any loft visit are all signs worth acting on quickly.
Telling them apart
It’s a common mix-up, but the signs do differ. Rats are active mainly at night, leave droppings and grease marks at ground or skirting level, and favour drains, bins and ground-floor voids. Grey squirrels are active by day, cause damage at roof height, and their entry points are almost always above head height on the building. If you’re hearing noise in a loft during the day, it’s far more likely to be a squirrel; scuffling after dark near the kitchen or utility room points to rats.
What residents can do now
- Check bin lids close fully and store food waste in sealed containers, especially in shared bin areas in Lenton and Radford student lets.
- Walk the roofline and check for loose tiles, gaps around soffits and fascias, and any branches overhanging the roof close to the house — particularly in Wollaton and Bilborough.
- Seal gaps where pipes or cables pass through external walls, and fit a proper airbrick cover rather than leaving an open vent.
- Clear sheds, compost bins and decking voids of food waste and nesting material such as cardboard or insulation offcuts.
- Act on the first sign rather than waiting — both rats and squirrels establish nests quickly once a reliable food source and shelter are found, and a small problem in October is a much bigger one by December.
If you’ve heard movement in the loft, spotted droppings near the bins, or just want a property checked over before winter sets in, NestBusters covers Radford, Lenton, Forest Fields, Wollaton, Bilborough, Aspley and the whole of Nottingham. Call 07429 849483 or visit nottinghampest.co.uk to book an inspection.
