Oranjezicht climbs right up to the edge of Table Mountain, so a lot of what comes into homes here walks in off the mountain. Rats, squirrels, wasps and the odd scorpion are all part of living this close to the national park.
The local picture in Oranjezicht
Roof rats travel along trees and walls from the mountain into roofs, and grey squirrels from the city parks nest in roof spaces. Sealing roof gaps is as important as baiting.
Grand Victorian and Edwardian houses with wooden floors, pressed ceilings and old roof timbers sit beside modern glass-fronted homes and small apartment blocks. Many of the older homes have cellars, servant's quarters and large gardens with retaining walls. Gaps in old stonework and roof flashings are where rodents tend to get in. Apartment blocks add shared bin areas and ducts.
The suburb backs onto Table Mountain National Park, with mountain streams, the Molteno reservoir area and De Waal Park nearby. Winter rain runs off the mountain and keeps properties damp, while the South-Easter blows down hard in summer. Trees and greenbelts link gardens directly to the mountain.
Rats and squirrels moving in from the mountain are the most common issue. Wood borer in old timber, fishmoths in damp rooms and wasps in summer are regular calls. Ants come indoors in the dry, windy months.
What gives them away
- A sharp, ammonia-like smell inside closed cupboards.
- Light scratching in the walls or under the kitchen units at night.
- Shredded paper, fabric or insulation bundled into a nest in a hidden corner.
- Nibbled corners of cereal boxes, bread bags and pet food packets.
- Tiny footprints or tail marks in dust on top of cupboards or in the garage.
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.
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.
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.
How we handle mouse control in Oranjezicht
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
- Seal the gaps where pipes and cables come through walls, especially under the sink.
- Keep the garage tidy, since boxes on the floor make perfect mouse nests.
- Fit brush strips to the bottom of garage and outside doors.
- 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.
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 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.
Mouse Control questions from Oranjezicht
Do Oranjezicht houses need wood borer checks?
Older homes with original timber often do, especially before a sale. We inspect roof timbers and floors and report any active borer.
Why do rats keep coming into my Oranjezicht roof?
Because your property is close to the mountain and greenbelts, which gives them easy access. Sealing gaps in roof flashings and cutting back trees near the roof keeps them out longer.
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 ultrasonic repellers worth it?
In our experience they do not solve a mouse problem. Mice get used to the sound quickly.
Do you come out to Oranjezicht for mouse control?
Yes. Oranjezicht is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Gardens, Vredehoek, Tamboerskloof, Higgovale. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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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