Gugulethu is busy, close-knit and built tight, so a pest problem in one home rarely stays there for long. Most of the calls we would expect here are about rats in yards and roofs, cockroaches moving between shared walls, and flies around refuse points in summer.
Rats in Gugulethu yards and backyard rooms
Most rats in Gugulethu are brown rats living in the sand. They dig burrows along boundary walls, under concrete slabs and beneath backyard rooms and zinc add-ons, then come into the house at night looking for food. Refuse bags left out overnight, spilled maize meal and dog food in the yard keep them fed, and in rows of attached homes they move along the shared roof line into ceilings next door.
We treat burrows, place lockable, tamper-resistant bait stations along walls where children and pets can't reach them, and trap inside. Because rats simply move to the neighbour's yard, the best results come when several homes in a row or a street are treated at the same time.
It sits on the flat, sandy ground of the central Cape Flats, where winter rain pools quickly and stormwater drains can back up. The South-Easter blows litter into corners and fences in summer, which gives rats and flies somewhere to feed. Sand also makes it easy for rodents to burrow under slabs and along foundation edges.
Rats are the big one, with German cockroaches close behind in kitchens and spaza shops.
Which rat is in your Gugulethu 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
What gives them away
Tick every sign you have noticed. It takes ten seconds.
Something most people miss
Loose rat bait is one of the most common causes of pet poisoning. Keep bait in locked stations, and keep your vet's number on the fridge anyway.
How the treatment works
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.
Stopping a repeat visit
- Trim back trees and creepers at least a metre from the roof, because roof rats jump from them.
- 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.
- Store feed and bird seed in metal bins with tight lids.
What affects the price
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
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.
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.
Is it better to treat the whole street for rats in Gugulethu?
Yes. Rats move between yards along walls and under backyard rooms. When neighbours treat at the same time, they have nowhere to go back to.
Why do rats keep coming back to my yard in Gugulethu even after I put poison down?
Because the neighbours' yards are feeding them. Rats travel several houses in a night, so a single-yard treatment only clears your spot for a while; treating a few homes together and sealing burrows along the walls gives much better results.
Are rats dangerous to my children?
Rats can bite and spread disease through urine and droppings, so it is worth dealing with them quickly.
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.
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