Rondebosch is old Cape Town: oak trees, Victorian houses, big schools and the UCT campus spilling down the slope toward Main Road. Between the students, the historic buildings and the squirrels, there's rarely a quiet week for pest work here.
Rats in Rondebosch: the Liesbeek and the old roofs
Rats in Rondebosch follow the Liesbeek River and the stormwater lines that feed it, and they find plenty to eat in student digs with overflowing bins and in the cafés and delis along Main Road. Roof rats get into the wide roof voids of Victorian and Edwardian homes through gaps in old fascia boards, often the same gaps the squirrels use.
Proofing the roof line is as important as trapping here. We trap in the roof, bait outside in lockable stations and seal the fascia gaps, and we can work with landlords of student houses on bin storage so rats don't keep coming back.
The Liesbeek River runs through Rondebosch and Rondebosch Common is a large open space in the middle of the suburb. Table Mountain's eastern slopes and the forests above Newlands bring heavy winter rain and a lot of tree cover. Damp, shady gardens and river banks are good rat and mosquito habitat.
Squirrels and roof rats are the headline problem, followed by German cockroaches in shared student kitchens.
Which rat is in your Rondebosch 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.
From the technician
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.
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.
Keeping them out afterwards
- Fit drain covers and check that old drain pipes are not broken underground.
- Trim back trees and creepers at least a metre from the roof, because roof rats jump from them.
- Store feed and bird seed in metal bins with tight lids.
- Do not leave building rubble or wood piles against the house for months.
- Pick up fallen fruit, avocados and pet food every evening.
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
Can you treat a student house in Rondebosch during the holidays?
Yes, holidays are the best time because rooms are empty and can be treated properly. Weekend and after-hours visits can also be arranged on request.
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.
Do rats in Rondebosch come from the Liesbeek River?
Some do, especially in homes near the river and stormwater lines. Bait stations along the boundary and sealed roof gaps keep them out.
Why are there so many squirrels in Rondebosch ceilings?
The suburb's old oaks are a huge food source, and old roofs have gaps under the eaves that squirrels chew wider. Once they're out, the gaps need to be closed or new ones move in.
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 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.
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