Plumstead is a settled, leafy suburb with long-standing families, a lot of oak and jacaranda shade and older homes that have been added onto over the years. That patchwork of old and new building is what keeps us busy here.
Roof rats and squirrels in Plumstead ceilings
The most common call in Plumstead is scratching in the ceiling, and it's usually roof rats or grey squirrels, often using the same gaps under the eaves. Roof rats travel along the oak and jacaranda canopy and the power lines from one property to the next, and the railway line between Wynberg and Diep River gives brown rats a corridor at ground level. Shops and takeaways along Main Road add to the pressure.
Many Plumstead houses have extensions, outside rooms and converted garages, and the joins between old and new roofs are classic entry points. We trap in the roof, bait outside in lockable stations and seal those joins properly.
Roof rats and squirrels in ceilings are the most common call, followed by German and American cockroaches in kitchens and drains.
Which rat is in your Plumstead 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
Tell-tale signs
Tick every sign you have noticed. It takes ten seconds.
A note from the field
Rats are neophobic, which means they avoid new things. A trap that has not been touched for a few days is not a failure; it often works after they get used to it.
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.
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.
- 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.
Prevention that actually works
- 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.
- Do not leave building rubble or wood piles against the house for months.
- Trim back trees and creepers at least a metre from the roof, because roof rats jump from them.
- Fit drain covers and check that old drain pipes are not broken underground.
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.
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 Plumstead
Are rats dangerous to my children?
Rats can bite and spread disease through urine and droppings, so it is worth dealing with them quickly.
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.
Do rats use the railway line to get around Plumstead?
The railway reserve between Wynberg and Diep River does act as a corridor for brown rats. Homes that back onto it benefit from bait stations along the back boundary.
Are the scratching noises in my Plumstead ceiling rats or squirrels?
If it's mostly during the day it's usually squirrels; at night it's more likely rats. Either way we inspect the eaves and roof line to find the entry point before treating.
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.
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