Strand is a beach town first, so a lot of our work follows the holiday calendar. Flats on Beach Road sit empty for months, then fill up over December, and pests that moved in quietly during the off-season suddenly become everyone's problem.
Mice in Strand's inland homes
Mice are more of a problem in Strand's older freestanding homes and townhouse complexes away from the beach, especially those that back onto open veld or vacant plots. They come in when the weather turns in autumn, through gaps under garage roller shutters, around pipes and through weep holes. The South-Easter also packs sand and leaves into those gaps and wears seals down, so gaps reopen.
We use traps and secured bait in roofs, garages and kitchens, and seal entry points with materials that stand up to salt air. Wire mesh rusts fast near the sea here, so we check vent covers and replace rusted mesh where needed.
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.
A note from the field
The biggest mistake is putting traps in the middle of the floor. Mice run along walls, so traps should be against the skirting with the trigger facing the wall.
For homes with toddlers and pets, traps can go inside lockable boxes or behind appliances where little hands cannot reach.
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.
- Look for clues
We check droppings, nests and gnawing to work out where the mice are most active.
- Find the gaps
We check behind appliances, under units and around pipes for entry points.
- Set traps
Traps and, where suitable, sealed bait stations go along the mice's runs.
- Seal entry points
Small holes are blocked with steel wool, mesh and sealant so mice cannot get back in.
- Follow-up
We come back to check the traps, clear them and leave a report.
Keeping them out afterwards
- Move cereal, pasta, rice and pet food into hard plastic or glass containers with good lids.
- Seal the gaps where pipes and cables come through walls, especially under the sink.
- Do not leave pet food out overnight in the kitchen.
- Keep the garage tidy, since boxes on the floor make perfect mouse nests.
- Pull the stove and fridge out once in a while and clean the crumbs and grease behind them.
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.
Questions we get asked in Strand
Why does salt air make mouse problems worse in Strand?
It rusts mesh and vent covers faster than inland, opening new gaps. Checking and replacing them keeps mice out.
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.
Are ultrasonic repellers worth it?
In our experience they do not solve a mouse problem. Mice get used to the sound quickly.
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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