University Estate Mouse Control

University Estate is a small hillside neighbourhood on the lower slopes of Devil's Peak, above Woodstock and next to Walmer Estate. Steep streets and a view over the harbour come with the bush and the old drains that bring rodents and roaches calling.

The local picture in University Estate

Roof rats come down from the greenbelt and run along walls and gutters into ceilings. Shared walls in the semis mean we often treat a few houses on the same row together.

Homes are a mix of older semi-detached houses, small freestanding homes and a few newer builds squeezed onto the slope. Many are built close together with shared walls, so a mouse problem rarely stays at one address. Retaining walls, terraced gardens and storage spaces under the house all give pests shelter.

Devil's Peak and the Table Mountain National Park greenbelt sit just above, and in summer the South-Easter tumbles down the slope hard. Winter rain runs off the mountain and through the streets, keeping retaining walls and low rooms damp. Fire-scarred slopes higher up occasionally push rodents downhill.

Rats and mice from the mountain edge and older drains are the main concern. Cockroaches, fishmoths and ants are frequent in damp lower rooms. Pigeons and timber borer turn up in the older houses.

What gives them away

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

From the technician

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.

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.

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

• Pull the stove and fridge out once in a while and clean the crumbs and grease behind them.
• Fit brush strips to the bottom of garage and outside doors.
• Do not leave pet food out overnight in the kitchen.
• 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.

What affects the price

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 University Estate

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