THEY are the non-native species that has long since been the bane of foresters across the UK. But the damage caused by grey squirrels could soon wreak havoc on the nation's phone connections. 

Campaigners concerned about significant losses the rodents have brought about on woodlands say they have proof of phonelines being targeted instead.

The conservation charity European Squirrel Initiative (ESI) claims to have been supplied with "direct evidence" by a BT Openreach engineer of phone wires having been damaged by a grey squirrel, which the group claims is "quite common". 

Forestry Journal: The ESI says damage to this phoneline was caused by a grew squirrel The ESI says damage to this phoneline was caused by a grew squirrel (Image: Supplied)

“For some time we have had anecdotal evidence of the damage grey squirrels cause, other than to trees, specifically damaging wires and cables and disrupting power and communication lines,” said Charles Dutton of the ESI. “While we continue to highlight the significant impact grey squirrels have on woodland and forests, and how they compromise government commitments to plant new woodland, at the cost of billions to the taxpayer, we now have first-hand evidence of the damage they are also causing to our vital communication networks." 

The ESI says that, although this highlights just one example, if you conservatively estimated this situation to occur at just one in 10,000 offices, it is clear to see the disruption, cost and losses this impact will have on any business.

Charles added: “Why they do so, we have no idea, and while sometimes the wires do kick back, the damage they can cause is as yet unquantifiable. But, if you consider our reliance on our ‘phone systems, particularly with working from home and flexible/ hybrid working patterns remaining popular, it is clear there is a considerable cost.

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“Indeed, one of our charity board members experienced disruption due to wires that were chewed through by squirrels. The network was down for a total of seven days, a significant downtime for any business operation, let alone for home and domestic circumstances." 

Latest reports estimate the cost of damage to woodlands, specifically to young broadleaved forests, due to stripping and repeated cycles of bark damage by grey squirrels, stands at a cumulative loss of £60 million per year in England and Wales alone, based on current timber prices.