Bantry Bay is a small, very steep pocket between Sea Point and Clifton, built right onto the granite rocks under Lion's Head. It is sheltered from the worst of the South-Easter, which makes it pleasant for people and, unfortunately, for flies, ants and rodents too.
Bantry Bay: what drives rodents here
Roof rats climb walls, creepers and drainpipes and get into ceilings and lift motor rooms. They also follow the rocky slopes down from Lion's Head.
Almost everything here is apartment blocks and large houses stacked up the slope, with many levels, lifts, stairways and basement parking. Buildings are often cut into the rock, so retaining walls, stormwater channels and plant rooms create cool, damp spaces where cockroaches and rodents settle. Luxury flats with full-time tenants sit beside lock-up-and-go units that stand empty for months.
Roof rats in ceilings and basements are the main concern, with German cockroaches close behind in shared buildings. Ants trail in from planted terraces and gardens. Pigeons on balconies and gulls on rooftops round out most of the work.
Worth knowing
When we arrive for mice, the first place we check is behind the stove and under the sink. Those two spots explain most kitchen infestations.
Cheese is a cartoon idea. Mice prefer seeds, grains and sweet, fatty foods, which is why peanut butter is such a good trap bait.
Signs to look for
- Nibbled corners of cereal boxes, bread bags and pet food packets.
- A sharp, ammonia-like smell inside closed cupboards.
- Tiny footprints or tail marks in dust on top of cupboards or in the garage.
- Small droppings about the size of a grain of rice in drawers, cupboards and along skirtings.
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.
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.
- Look for clues
We check droppings, nests and gnawing to work out where the mice are most active.
- Find the gaps
We check behind appliances, under units and around pipes for entry points.
- Set traps
Traps and, where suitable, sealed bait stations go along the mice's runs.
- Seal entry points
Small holes are blocked with steel wool, mesh and sealant so mice cannot get back in.
- Follow-up
We come back to check the traps, clear them and leave a report.
Prevention that actually works
- Do not leave pet food out overnight in the kitchen.
- 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.
- Keep the garage tidy, since boxes on the floor make perfect mouse nests.
- Fit brush strips to the bottom of garage and outside doors.
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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
How do rats get into upper-floor flats in Bantry Bay?
Mostly by climbing creepers, pipes and rough rock-faced walls, or travelling up through service ducts and lift shafts. We combine baiting in roofs and basements with sealing those entry points.
Are ultrasonic repellers worth it?
In our experience they do not solve a mouse problem. Mice get used to the sound quickly.
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.
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.
Do you come out to Bantry Bay for mouse control?
Yes. Bantry Bay is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Sea Point, Fresnaye, Clifton, Atlantic Seaboard. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
My Bantry Bay flat is empty for months. How do I stop pests while I am away?
Clear out opened dry food, close up drains with plugs, and book a treatment just before you leave. A quick check and spray before you return means you arrive to a clean flat.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp 074 697 2254