Imizamo Yethu climbs the slope above the Hout Bay valley, with homes packed closely together on the hillside. Rats, cockroaches and flies are the everyday pests, and the steep ground makes stormwater and refuse a constant challenge.
Birds in Imizamo Yethu: what we see
Pigeons and gulls follow food waste near the edge of the settlement. They are a minor nuisance compared to rodents.
The area is a mix of informal structures built from zinc and timber, brick houses and some newer formal housing projects lower down. Homes are very close together, often sharing walls or sitting just a metre apart. Gaps in zinc and timber walls let rodents in easily, and they move quickly from one home to the next.
It sits on the slopes below the mountain, with fynbos and steep rock above. Winter rain runs downhill fast and can carry litter into drains, while the South-Easter blows debris around in summer. The slope also means water collects in low points and blocked channels.
Rats are the main problem, followed by German cockroaches and flies in summer. Fleas and bed bugs come up in crowded homes. Mice get into food stores in shops and homes.
What gives them away
- Twigs, grass and feathers sticking out from under roof tiles or panels.
- Droppings building up on ledges, walls, windowsills or under solar panels.
- Cooing, scratching or flapping in the roof space or behind the gutters early in the morning.
- Blocked gutters and downpipes full of nesting material.
- Tiny mites crawling on walls or bedding near a nest site.
- A sour smell around a roof area where birds have been nesting for a long time.
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.
From the technician
Proofing over an active nest is a mistake. You either trap birds inside or they break through, so the clean-out always comes first.
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.
How we handle bird proofing in Imizamo Yethu
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.
Keeping them out afterwards
- 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.
- Fit mesh skirting around new solar panels at installation, before birds discover the gap.
- Deal with the first nest quickly. Pigeons that breed on a site get attached to it.
- Do not feed pigeons near your home or business. A reliable food source keeps them coming back.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to use rat bait around children in Imizamo Yethu?
We use tamper-resistant bait stations so children and pets cannot reach the bait. We always explain where they are placed and what to watch for.
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.
Why am I getting bites after the pigeons left?
That is often bird mites leaving an abandoned nest. They do not live on people, but they bite, and we treat the nest area to stop them.
Can you treat a whole row of homes in Imizamo Yethu for rats at once?
Yes, and that is the best way to do it. When neighbours treat together, the rats cannot simply move next door, so the results last longer.
Can you stop pigeons nesting under my solar panels?
Yes. We clean out the nests and fit mesh skirting around the panel edges so birds cannot get underneath.
Do you come out to Imizamo Yethu for bird proofing?
Yes. Imizamo Yethu is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Hout Bay, Llandudno, Constantia. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp us
