Rondebosch is old Cape Town: oak trees, Victorian houses, big schools and the UCT campus spilling down the slope toward Main Road. Between the students, the historic buildings and the squirrels, there's rarely a quiet week for pest work here.
Birds around Rondebosch
Pigeons roost on the ledges of old school and campus buildings, and Egyptian geese are regular on sports fields and the Common. Netting and spikes keep pigeons off ledges and out of roof spaces.
There's a real mix. Victorian and Edwardian homes with timber floors and pressed-ceiling roofs sit next to student digs, blocks of flats and large school and university buildings. Old houses split into rental rooms mean lots of people sharing kitchens, which is where cockroaches thrive. High ceilings and wide roof voids give squirrels and rats plenty of room.
The Liesbeek River runs through Rondebosch and Rondebosch Common is a large open space in the middle of the suburb. Table Mountain's eastern slopes and the forests above Newlands bring heavy winter rain and a lot of tree cover. Damp, shady gardens and river banks are good rat and mosquito habitat.
Worth knowing
When we survey a building, the first thing we look for is where the droppings land. That tells us the roost spot, which is often not where the owner thinks it is.
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.
Signs to look for
- Tiny mites crawling on walls or bedding near a nest site.
- Blocked gutters and downpipes full of nesting material.
- Birds regularly perching in the same spots over doorways or walkways.
- Twigs, grass and feathers sticking out from under roof tiles or panels.
How we handle bird proofing in Rondebosch
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
- Fit mesh skirting around new solar panels at installation, before birds discover the gap.
- Do not feed pigeons near your home or business. A reliable food source keeps them coming back.
- Keep refuse bins closed and clean up spilt food around outdoor eating areas.
- Close off broken air vents, missing tiles and open eaves as soon as you notice them.
- Clean gutters before winter, and check for nesting material at the same time.
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.
A few spikes on a low windowsill is a fine DIY job. Netting and solar panel proofing at height is not, both for safety and because poorly tensioned netting sags, traps birds and ends up looking messy. I would rather do it once and do it properly.
Questions we get asked in Rondebosch
Do bird spikes hurt the birds?
No. The spikes are blunt and simply stop birds from landing comfortably. They move somewhere else.
Can you treat a student house in Rondebosch during the holidays?
Yes, holidays are the best time because rooms are empty and can be treated properly. Weekend and after-hours visits can also be arranged on request.
Do you use poison on pigeons?
No. Bird proofing is about physical exclusion, which is safer and lasts longer than trying to kill birds.
Do you come out to Rondebosch for bird proofing?
Yes. Rondebosch is part of our regular Southern Suburbs route, along with Newlands, Rosebank, Claremont, Rondebosch East. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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 are there so many squirrels in Rondebosch ceilings?
The suburb's old oaks are a huge food source, and old roofs have gaps under the eaves that squirrels chew wider. Once they're out, the gaps need to be closed or new ones move in.
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