Mitchells Plain is one of the biggest suburbs in Cape Town, stretching from the Town Centre down to the False Bay coast at Strandfontein. With so many homes, schools and shops, pests here are a daily part of life, and we deal with everything from rats to bed bugs.
Rats in Mitchells Plain
Rats in Mitchells Plain nest in backyard rubble, Wendy houses, extra rooms and the open fields between neighbourhoods, and they get into homes through gaps under doors and where extensions meet the old walls. The semi-detached and row houses built in the 1970s and 80s share walls, so rats move easily from one yard to the next. Around the Town Centre, markets and takeaways keep them well fed.
Treating a row of homes together gives the best results. We place tamper-resistant bait stations along walls and yards, trap inside where needed, and show you how to seal the gaps under doors and around extensions.
Which rat is in your Mitchells Plain 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
A note from the field
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.
Tell-tale signs
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.
- Identify the rat
We look at droppings, tracks and entry points to tell a roof rat from a Norway rat.
- Find the runs
We trace the routes from nest to food, inside and outside the property.
- Traps and stations
Snap traps go inside and locked bait stations outside, placed on the actual runs.
- Proofing
Gaps, vents and roof entry points are closed with steel mesh and cement.
- Follow-up check
We return to check traps and stations, adjust the plan and leave a report.
Stopping a repeat visit
- Do not leave building rubble or wood piles against the house for months.
- Keep compost in a closed bin and do not add meat or cooked food.
- Pick up fallen fruit, avocados and pet food every evening.
- Fit drain covers and check that old drain pipes are not broken underground.
- Store feed and bird seed in metal bins with tight lids.
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.
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.
Questions we get asked in Mitchells Plain
Are the midges in Mitchells Plain coming from the Strandfontein ponds?
Many of them are. The wastewater ponds and nearby vleis are big breeding areas, so homes closest to the coast notice them most on warm evenings.
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 come into my Mitchells Plain house through the back door?
There's often a gap under the door, and rats nest in backyard rubble or Wendy houses close by. Sealing the gap and treating the yard keeps them out.
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.
Is there a guarantee?
Yes, our treatments carry a minimum 3-month guarantee.
Can you treat a whole row of houses for rats?
Yes, and it works far better than doing one house. We can set up bait stations along the row and seal common entry points.
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