Simon's Town is a historic naval town on False Bay, with steep streets climbing the mountain behind St George's Street. Old buildings, the sea air and the mountain on the doorstep make for a very particular set of pest problems.
Mice in Simon's Town's old buildings
House mice get into Simon's Town's old buildings through gaps in stonework, around old sash window frames and under warped doors. Many of the historic buildings along St George's Street have shops below and flats or guest rooms above, and mice move between floors through old wall cavities. Guest houses with busy kitchens and storerooms see them most in winter, when the wet, windy north-westers drive them inside.
We trap and use secured bait in roof spaces, storerooms and kitchens, and seal gaps carefully with materials that suit old buildings. In guest houses, we work around bookings so guests aren't disturbed.
Something most people miss
For homes with toddlers and pets, traps can go inside lockable boxes or behind appliances where little hands cannot reach.
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.
Tell-tale signs
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.
Stopping a repeat visit
- Keep the garage tidy, since boxes on the floor make perfect mouse nests.
- 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.
- Seal the gaps where pipes and cables come through walls, especially under the sink.
- Move cereal, pasta, rice and pet food into hard plastic or glass containers with good lids.
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 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.
Mouse Control questions from Simon's Town
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.
Do rats in Simon's Town come from the harbour or the mountain?
Both. Homes near the waterfront tend to get rats from the harbour, while houses higher up get them from the mountain slopes.
Why do mice get into old Simon's Town buildings?
Old stonework and frames have gaps. Careful sealing and treatment keep them out.
Can you treat old heritage buildings in Simon's Town without damaging them?
Yes, we choose methods that don't harm old timber, plaster or stonework, and we focus on proofing gaps carefully. We'll talk you through the plan before starting.
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.
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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