Mitchells Plain is one of the biggest suburbs in Cape Town, stretching from the Town Centre down to the False Bay coast at Strandfontein. With so many homes, schools and shops, pests here are a daily part of life, and we deal with everything from rats to bed bugs.
Mice in Mitchells Plain homes
Mice get into Mitchells Plain homes through gaps under roof sheeting, at the joins of extensions and around pipes, and they're most active in winter when rain pools on the flat ground. Wendy houses used for storage are a favourite nesting spot.
We set traps and secured bait where children and pets can't reach, and seal entry points. Storing maize meal, rice and flour in sealed containers takes away what draws them in.
The area sits on Cape Flats sand close to False Bay, with dunes along the coast and the Strandfontein wastewater ponds to the west. Winter rain often pools on the flat ground, and the South-Easter blows sand and litter around in summer.
Rats, German cockroaches and flies are the most common pests.
Worth knowing
Cheese is a cartoon idea. Mice prefer seeds, grains and sweet, fatty foods, which is why peanut butter is such a good trap bait.
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.
Signs to look for
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.
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.
Keeping them out afterwards
- Pull the stove and fridge out once in a while and clean the crumbs and grease behind them.
- 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.
- 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.
Questions we get asked in Mitchells Plain
Is it mice or rats in my Mitchells Plain Wendy house?
Mouse droppings are rice-sized, rat droppings are much bigger. Send us a photo on WhatsApp and we'll tell you.
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.
Can you treat a whole row of houses for rats?
Yes, and it works far better than doing one house. We can set up bait stations along the row and seal common entry points.
Are ultrasonic repellers worth it?
In our experience they do not solve a mouse problem. Mice get used to the sound quickly.
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.
Are the midges in Mitchells Plain coming from the Strandfontein ponds?
Many of them are. The wastewater ponds and nearby vleis are big breeding areas, so homes closest to the coast notice them most on warm evenings.
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