Know what you are dealing with
The house mouse, Mus musculus, is the mouse we deal with in almost every home and kitchen in the Western Cape. It is small and grey-brown with large ears, a pointed nose and a tail about as long as its body. Unlike rats, house mice can live their whole lives inside a building, nesting in cupboards, under kitchen units, inside appliances and in wall cavities. On smallholdings and near fynbos and veld you may also see the four-striped grass mouse, which is easy to recognise from the stripes down its back and seldom settles indoors. In the house it is nearly always the house mouse, and that is what our treatment is set up for.
Myths, mistakes and lesser-known facts
For homes with toddlers and pets, traps can go inside lockable boxes or behind appliances where little hands cannot reach.
In flats and townhouses, mice often move between units through shared walls and service ducts, so one owner treating alone may only push them next door.
Mice do not need to drink much water, because they get most of it from their food. That is why they can live happily in a dry pantry.
Warning signs
Tick every sign you have noticed. It takes ten seconds.
Why it matters: Mice urinate constantly as they move, which contaminates food, crockery and work surfaces. They can carry salmonella and other bacteria into kitchen areas, which is a real problem for food businesses and homes with babies. They chew through wiring behind appliances and inside walls, and they ruin stored linen, paperwork and books. Because a female mouse can have a new litter every few weeks, a couple of mice quickly becomes a cupboard full.
Can you do it yourself?
Mice are one pest where DIY genuinely works if you are thorough: a handful of snap traps baited with peanut butter, set against the walls, will catch a lot of them. Where people go wrong is not sealing the gaps, so if you are still catching mice after two or three weeks, it is time to call us.
Seasonal pattern
Mice move indoors when Cape Town's winter rains and colder nights start, usually from late April, and the numbers stay high until spring. In the Boland, harvest time and ploughing can push field mice towards farm buildings too.
Prevention checklist
- Move cereal, pasta, rice and pet food into hard plastic or glass containers with good lids.
- Pull the stove and fridge out once in a while and clean the crumbs and grease behind them.
- Seal the gaps where pipes and cables come through walls, especially under the sink.
- Fit brush strips to the bottom of garage and outside doors.
- Do not leave pet food out overnight in the kitchen.
- Keep the garage tidy, since boxes on the floor make perfect mouse nests.
What affects the price
The price depends on how many rooms are affected, how long the mice have been there and how many gaps need sealing. A single kitchen is quicker than a whole house with mice in the walls and the garage. Follow-up visits are usually included, and the quote is free.
Frequently asked questions
Which areas do you cover for mouse control?
All of Cape Town and the Boland: 133 suburbs from Atlantis and Melkbosstrand to Simon's Town, Khayelitsha and Gordon's Bay. We are based in Brackenfell.
Can I deal with mice myself?
Mice are one pest where DIY genuinely works if you are thorough: a handful of snap traps baited with peanut butter, set against the walls, will catch a lot of them. Where people go wrong is not sealing the gaps, so if you are still catching mice after two or three weeks, it is time to call us.
How do I get a quote?
Call 021 012 5825 or send us a photo on WhatsApp. Quotes are free and we will tell you what you are dealing with.
Are ultrasonic repellers worth it?
In our experience they do not solve a mouse problem. Mice get used to the sound quickly.
Do you use poison in the kitchen?
We prefer traps in kitchens and food areas. If bait is needed, it is kept in sealed stations.
How long does mouse control take?
Most homes are clear in two to three weeks once the traps are set and the gaps are sealed.