Durbanville is close to our Brackenfell base, and you really see the difference here between the old village streets and the newer estates on the hills. Mice and ants are constant, and the farmland and vineyards on the edges send their own visitors.
Rats in Durbanville homes and estates
Rats in Durbanville come in from the farmland and open veld on the edges of town, and they're most noticeable after harvest and when the first cold fronts arrive. In the old village, roof rats use established trees to reach older roofs. On the hills, newer homes with complicated rooflines and many downlighters give them warm roof voids to nest in.
We trap in the roof, put lockable bait stations around the perimeter and seal gaps at fascias, ridge tiles and pipe entries. In estates, coordinating with neighbours or the HOA gives a much better result.
Mice and rats moving in from farmland are the main winter call.
Which rat is in your Durbanville home?
Brown rat
Rattus norvegicus- Norway rat
- Sewer rat
- Family Muridae
- Body
- Heavy and thickset
- Nose
- Blunt and rounded
- Ears
- Small, furry, close to head
- Tail
- Shorter than its body
- Weight
- 250 to 500 g
- Droppings
- Up to 2 cm, blunt ends
- Burrow holes along walls, under paving and sheds
- Greasy rub marks low down along skirting and walls
- Gnawed bins, compost heaps and pet food bags
- Coming up through drains and broken sewer pipes
Black rat
Rattus rattus- Roof rat
- Ship rat
- Family Muridae
- Body
- Slim and agile
- Nose
- Pointed
- Ears
- Large, thin, almost bare
- Tail
- Longer than its body
- Weight
- 150 to 250 g
- Droppings
- About 1.2 cm, pointed
- Scratching and running in the ceiling at night
- Droppings in the roof space, cupboards and on beams
- Chewed cables, insulation and ceiling boards
- Running along fences, power lines and tree branches
ActiveBusierPeak, as rats move indoors in the cold, wet winter
How to tell you have a problem
Tick every sign you have noticed. It takes ten seconds.
Why it matters: Rats spread leptospirosis through their urine, and they can carry salmonella and other diseases onto food surfaces. They gnaw on electrical cables in roofs, which can start fires, and chew through water pipes and geyser fittings. Rats also bite, especially when cornered or when a small child or sleeping person is involved. A couple of rats can become dozens within a season because they breed fast.
Worth knowing
When a technician arrives for rats, the first thing he looks at is the outside of the building: tree branches, roof edges, drain pipes and any gap a rat could fit through.
Tenants often find the rats, but the fix is usually structural, a broken vent or a gap under the roof. That is a landlord job, and a report from us helps sort it out.
Our process, step by step
First we identify the rat and track its route, because a roof rat problem is solved at the roof line and a Norway rat problem at ground level and in the drains. In the roof and inside the house we prefer heavy-duty snap traps, so there is no smell from a rat dying in the ceiling. Outdoors we use lockable, tamper-resistant bait stations, positioned along runs and fixed so they cannot be moved, and we do a bait risk assessment where pets, children or owls are around. Then we proof: steel mesh over vents, sealing gaps around pipes and cables, and advice on trimming branches. Burrows are treated and collapsed after the colony is dealt with.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our rat control service works.
Prevention that actually works
- Pick up fallen fruit, avocados and pet food every evening.
- Do not leave building rubble or wood piles against the house for months.
- Store feed and bird seed in metal bins with tight lids.
- Keep compost in a closed bin and do not add meat or cooked food.
- Trim back trees and creepers at least a metre from the roof, because roof rats jump from them.
Pricing, honestly
Price depends on the size of the property, which rat species you have and how many entry points need proofing. A roof rat problem with lots of overhanging trees takes more proofing work than a single burrow in the garden. Follow-up visits are part of most rat jobs and are included in the free quote.
Rat calls peak in Cape Town's rainy winter months, when burrows flood and rats head for dry roof spaces. Roof rats are busy again in late summer and autumn when fruit trees are loaded.
Rat Control questions from Durbanville
Can you get rid of rats near a river or canal?
Yes, but properties near water usually need ongoing stations and good proofing, because new rats keep arriving.
Why do I get more mice in winter in Durbanville?
Cold, wet weather and harvesting on the surrounding farms push mice toward warm buildings. Sealing gaps in autumn and putting out bait stations early keeps most of them out.
Are rats dangerous to my children?
Rats can bite and spread disease through urine and droppings, so it is worth dealing with them quickly.
Why do rats get into newer Durbanville homes?
Complicated rooflines leave small gaps, and roof voids with downlighters are warm. Sealing the gaps and trapping in the roof solves it.
How are rats getting into my roof?
Roof rats climb trees, walls and cables and squeeze in under roof tiles, fascia boards or through open eaves.
How do I know if it is rats or mice?
Rat droppings are much larger, roughly raisin-sized, and rats are noisier. Send a photo of the droppings on WhatsApp and we will tell you.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp us
