Claremont is the Southern Suburbs' shopping and office hub, built around Cavendish Square, Main Road and the station, with leafy residential streets running up towards the mountain. Our work here swings between commercial kitchens and retail on one side and older family homes with big trees on the other.
Mice in Claremont homes
Mice in Claremont live in the suspended wooden floors, hollow walls and outbuildings of older homes. The wet winters, which are among the wettest in the city, push them indoors from damp gardens.
We trap inside, use secured bait in roof spaces and under floors where reachable, and seal the gaps around pipes and air bricks. Upper Claremont's bigger houses often have cellars, outside rooms and garages packed with stored things, which mice use as a base before moving into the kitchen. Lower down, near Main Road, mice in flats and offices usually come from the shops and storerooms on the ground floor.
Being close to Newlands and the mountain, Claremont is one of the wetter parts of Cape Town in winter, so damp walls and soggy gardens are normal. Large oaks and plane trees line the streets, and Arderne Gardens holds an old collection of big trees. That green canopy feeds roof rats and grey squirrels and gives wasps sheltered nesting spots.
Rats in the commercial area and roof rats in homes are the leading issues. Squirrels in roofs and pigeons around the shops are steady complaints.
Something most people miss
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.
What gives them away
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.
How we handle mouse control in Claremont
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.
Keeping them out afterwards
- Move cereal, pasta, rice and pet food into hard plastic or glass containers with good lids.
- 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.
- Seal the gaps where pipes and cables come through walls, especially under the sink.
How much will it cost?
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
Why do I hear mice under the floor in my Claremont house?
Older homes have suspended timber floors that mice use for shelter. Sealing the air bricks and treating under the floor solves it.
Are the squirrels in Claremont roofs a pest problem?
They can be, because grey squirrels chew through roof boards and wiring once they get into a ceiling. We help by sealing entry points and trimming branches, so they stay in the trees instead of your roof.
Do Main Road restaurants bring rats into nearby Claremont homes?
Rats do move from busy food areas into nearby properties, especially along lanes and stormwater lines. Good waste control on the commercial side and sealing gaps at home cuts the problem down.
If I see one mouse, are there more?
Usually, yes. Mice live in family groups and are shy, so if you see one in daylight there are probably others.
What is the best bait for a mouse trap?
Peanut butter works better than cheese, and only a small dab is needed so the mouse has to work at it.
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.
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