Athlone is busy, built-up and full of small businesses, so a lot of our work here is about stopping pests moving between homes, shops and takeaways that share the same blocks. The Black River and the old open land around the wastewater works on the Pinelands side give rodents and mosquitoes somewhere to breed just outside the residential streets.
The local picture in Athlone
Brown rats burrow in the sandy soil along boundary walls and come up into outbuildings and garages. Mice are more of a winter problem, getting into roof spaces through gaps under the tiles.
Most homes are older semi-detached and freestanding brick houses, plus council flats in places like Kewtown and Bridgetown. Many have been extended at the back over the years, and those join-ups between old and new roofs leave gaps that rats and mice use. In the flat blocks, German cockroaches travel along shared plumbing ducts, so treating one unit on its own rarely holds for long.
Signs to look for
- Nibbled corners of cereal boxes, bread bags and pet food packets.
- A sharp, ammonia-like smell inside closed cupboards.
- Small droppings about the size of a grain of rice in drawers, cupboards and along skirtings.
- Tiny footprints or tail marks in dust on top of cupboards or in the garage.
- Shredded paper, fabric or insulation bundled into a nest in a hidden corner.
- Light scratching in the walls or under the kitchen units at night.
From the technician
Cheese is a cartoon idea. Mice prefer seeds, grains and sweet, fatty foods, which is why peanut butter is such a good trap bait.
Our process, step by step
We start by finding where they get in and where they nest, which is usually a gap behind the stove, around a geyser pipe or under a kitchen unit. Indoors we mainly use snap traps and enclosed traps placed along the walls, because mice run close to edges and are curious enough to investigate. Where baiting is needed, it goes inside tamper-resistant stations that children and pets cannot open, after a bait risk assessment. We then seal the entry points with steel wool, mesh and sealant, because mice can squeeze through a hole about the width of a pencil. A follow-up visit checks the traps and confirms the activity has stopped.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our mouse control service works.
Stopping a repeat visit
- 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.
- Pull the stove and fridge out once in a while and clean the crumbs and grease behind them.
- Keep the garage tidy, since boxes on the floor make perfect mouse nests.
- Move cereal, pasta, rice and pet food into hard plastic or glass containers with good lids.
Pricing, honestly
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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Why do cockroaches keep coming back in my Athlone flat?
In the council flat blocks, German cockroaches move through shared plumbing ducts and walls, so neighbouring units keep re-infesting each other. Treating the whole block, or at least the units on either side, gives a far longer result.
Do you come out to Athlone for mouse control?
Yes. Athlone is part of our regular Cape Flats route, along with Crawford, Rondebosch East, Lansdowne, Langa. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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.
Are ultrasonic repellers worth it?
In our experience they do not solve a mouse problem. Mice get used to the sound quickly.
Do the rats in Athlone come from the Black River?
Some do, especially in streets closest to the river and the open land around the treatment works. Most, though, are living in the sand along boundary walls and under outbuildings, so we bait and seal at the house as well as along the river side.
How do mice get into the house?
Through tiny gaps around pipes, under doors, through air vents and roof edges. A gap the width of a pencil is enough.
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