Fish Hoek is a beach town with a strong community, plenty of retirees and a flat valley that cuts right across the peninsula toward Noordhoek. A lot of our work here is helping people in older homes keep mice, fishmoths and ants under control without any fuss.
Rats in Fish Hoek roofs and garages
Fish Hoek's rats are mostly roof rats, and they find their way in through the tiles that decades of South-Easter and north-wester have loosened on the valley's mid-century houses. Garages and storerooms that have filled up over many years give them a quiet place to nest, and fruit trees and compost heaps in established gardens keep them fed.
Homes close to the slopes on the Silvermine side and along the valley towards Noordhoek see rats moving in from the natural bush in winter. We trap in the roof, put secured bait stations outside, and reseat or seal loose tiles and eaves gaps. Clearing clutter in the garage is a big part of a lasting fix.
The town sits on sandy ground on the valley floor that links False Bay to Noordhoek, with mountains on both sides. Winter brings rain and cold north-westers, while summer belongs to the South-Easter. The slopes and the Silvermine side give scorpions, spiders and rodents plenty of natural habitat right next to the houses.
Mice and rats in roofs and garages are the steadiest call.
Which rat is in your Fish Hoek 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
Something most people miss
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.
People often block the hole the rat used and trap it inside the roof. Always deal with the rats before you seal the last gap.
How to tell you have a problem
Tick every sign you have noticed. It takes ten seconds.
What happens when we come out
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
- Fit drain covers and check that old drain pipes are not broken underground.
- Keep compost in a closed bin and do not add meat or cooked food.
- Do not leave building rubble or wood piles against the house for months.
- Pick up fallen fruit, avocados and pet food every evening.
- Trim back trees and creepers at least a metre from the roof, because roof rats jump from them.
How much will it cost?
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.
One rat in a garden shed can be caught with a decent snap trap and some patience. Rats in the roof are smart and cautious, and loose poison from the shop often ends with a smell in the ceiling and a sick dog, so I would call someone in once they are in the house.
Frequently asked questions
Do you treat retirement complexes in Fish Hoek?
Yes. We work with complexes on cockroach, rodent and ant control and can do disinfection of shared areas, choosing the least-toxic effective option first.
Will poison make the rats smell in the ceiling?
It can, which is why we prefer traps in the roof and keep bait in outside stations.
Is there a guarantee?
Yes, our treatments carry a minimum 3-month guarantee.
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.
Why do I hear rats in my Fish Hoek roof every winter?
Cold, wet weather pushes roof rats from gardens and the mountain slopes into warm roof spaces, often through wind-loosened tiles. Sealing those gaps in autumn and trapping in the roof stops the yearly cycle.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp us
