Rondebosch East Mouse Control

Rondebosch East is a quiet residential suburb of family homes, tidy gardens and long-established households. Most of the work we do here is keeping well-kept houses free of the pests that drift in from the busier roads and open land around it.

Rodents in Rondebosch East: what we see

Brown rats burrow in sandy garden beds and along boundary walls, and roof rats climb in where extensions meet the old roof. Mice are typical in garages and storerooms.

Homes are mostly single-storey brick houses on decent-sized plots, many extended with second storeys, granny flats or garages over the years. Tiled roofs with timber trusses are the norm. Extensions often leave small gaps where new roof meets old, and that's where rats and mynas get in. Several mosques, schools and small businesses along the main roads have their own pest needs.

The suburb sits on flat ground on the western edge of the Cape Flats, with sandy soil and open spaces such as school fields nearby. The Black River corridor and the M5 run to the west. Winters bring heavy rain and some stormwater ponding, while summers are hot and windy.

Rats and mice are the most common calls, with ants and cockroaches close behind. Fleas, wasps and pigeons round out the list in summer.

What gives them away

1. Tiny footprints or tail marks in dust on top of cupboards or in the garage.
2. Nibbled corners of cereal boxes, bread bags and pet food packets.
3. Small droppings about the size of a grain of rice in drawers, cupboards and along skirtings.
4. A sharp, ammonia-like smell inside closed cupboards.
5. Shredded paper, fabric or insulation bundled into a nest in a hidden corner.
6. Light scratching in the walls or under the kitchen units at night.

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.

From the technician

Mice do not need to drink much water, because they get most of it from their food. That is why they can live happily in a dry pantry.

Cheese is a cartoon idea. Mice prefer seeds, grains and sweet, fatty foods, which is why peanut butter is such a good trap bait.

What happens when we come out

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.

1. Look for clues

   We check droppings, nests and gnawing to work out where the mice are most active.

2. Find the gaps

   We check behind appliances, under units and around pipes for entry points.

3. Set traps

   Traps and, where suitable, sealed bait stations go along the mice's runs.

4. Seal entry points

   Small holes are blocked with steel wool, mesh and sealant so mice cannot get back in.

5. Follow-up

   We come back to check the traps, clear them and leave a report.

Keeping them out afterwards

• Keep the garage tidy, since boxes on the floor make perfect mouse nests.
• Fit brush strips to the bottom of garage and outside doors.
• Move cereal, pasta, rice and pet food into hard plastic or glass containers with good lids.
• Do not leave pet food out overnight in the kitchen.
• Seal the gaps where pipes and cables come through walls, especially under the sink.

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.

Questions we get asked in Rondebosch East

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