Capri is a quiet residential pocket on the Kommetjie side of the valley between Fish Hoek and Noordhoek, with fynbos slopes on one side and the wetlands of the valley floor on the other. Most of what we treat here wanders in from that wild edge: mice, rats, spiders, the odd scorpion and plenty of mosquitoes in a wet spring.
The local picture in Capri Village
Egyptian geese like the wetlands and big lawns, and pigeons nest under solar panels. Panel mesh is the simplest fix.
Homes are mainly freestanding family houses from the 1980s onward, many with timber decks, wooden window frames and a few with thatched lapas or outbuildings. Gardens are big and often run straight into natural bush, so there is no real buffer between the veld and the house. Garages, workshops and Wendy houses on these plots are favourite spots for rodents to nest over winter.
The valley floor between Fish Hoek and Noordhoek used to be a sea channel, and it still holds wetlands and vleis that fill in winter. Fynbos slopes rise behind the houses, and the mountain fires that come through every few years drive rodents and insects downhill into gardens. The South-Easter funnels up the valley in summer, while the north-wester brings rain from May to August.
Rodents from the surrounding bush are the most common call, especially after a wet winter or a fire on the mountain. Mosquitoes from the wetlands are a big spring and summer complaint. Spiders, scorpions and ants come in from the garden, and wood borer is worth watching on timber and thatch.
What gives them away
- Cooing, scratching or flapping in the roof space or behind the gutters early in the morning.
- Twigs, grass and feathers sticking out from under roof tiles or panels.
- Blocked gutters and downpipes full of nesting material.
- Tiny mites crawling on walls or bedding near a nest site.
- Droppings building up on ledges, walls, windowsills or under solar panels.
- Birds regularly perching in the same spots over doorways or walkways.
Pigeon droppings are acidic, mark paintwork and roofing, and become slippery underfoot on walkways. Accumulated droppings and old nests can carry fungi and bacteria, and cleaning them up dry raises dust you do not want to breathe. Nests block gutters and cause water damage when winter rains back up into the roof. When birds leave a nest, their bird mites often wander indoors looking for a new host, which leads to itchy bites.
Something most people miss
Bird mites are the hidden side of nesting birds. When the chicks fledge, the mites go looking for a meal and sometimes find the people inside.
Proofing over an active nest is a mistake. You either trap birds inside or they break through, so the clean-out always comes first.
How the treatment works
We start by watching where the birds actually land and nest, because proofing the wrong ledge is a waste of money. Ledges and beams get bird spikes or tensioned wire systems that stop birds settling. Larger open areas such as courtyards, loading bays and light wells get bird netting fixed to a frame so birds cannot get in at all. Gaps under solar panels and roof tiles are closed with mesh or panel skirting so pigeons cannot nest underneath. Old nests and droppings are removed first, and if bird mites are present we treat the area as well.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our bird proofing service works.
Stopping a repeat visit
- Deal with the first nest quickly. Pigeons that breed on a site get attached to it.
- Keep refuse bins closed and clean up spilt food around outdoor eating areas.
- Clean gutters before winter, and check for nesting material at the same time.
- Close off broken air vents, missing tiles and open eaves as soon as you notice them.
- Fit mesh skirting around new solar panels at installation, before birds discover the gap.
What affects the price
The cost depends on how many areas need proofing, how high they are and how much access equipment is needed. Netting a large courtyard or a warehouse roof is a bigger job than spiking a few ledges. Clean-out of heavy droppings and any mite treatment are included in the free quote once we have done the site survey.
Pigeons breed throughout the year in Cape Town, so proofing is a year-round job. We see a rush in late winter and spring when birds start nesting heavily, and again before the winter rains when people find their gutters blocked.
Questions we get asked in Capri Village
Do you come out to Capri Village for bird proofing?
Yes. Capri Village is part of our regular South Peninsula route, along with Noordhoek, Sun Valley, Kommetjie, Masiphumelele. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Do veld fires near Capri bring rodents into homes?
Yes, after a fire on the slopes, mice and rats lose cover and food and move downhill into gardens and garages. A quick inspection and some perimeter baiting soon after a fire can head off an infestation.
Why are mosquitoes so bad in Capri in spring?
The wetlands on the valley floor fill up over winter and warm up in spring, which is perfect for mosquito breeding. Clearing standing water in the garden and fitting window mesh is the most practical defence.
Do you use poison on pigeons?
No. Bird proofing is about physical exclusion, which is safer and lasts longer than trying to kill birds.
Can you do commercial buildings?
Yes, a lot of our bird proofing is shops, warehouses and blocks of flats where droppings affect staff and customers.
Do bird spikes hurt the birds?
No. The spikes are blunt and simply stop birds from landing comfortably. They move somewhere else.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp 074 697 2254