Woodstock runs from the railway line and the old industrial blocks along Albert Road up to the cottages above Victoria Road. It is part creative hub, part working neighbourhood, and its mix of old buildings, food businesses and busy streets keeps rodents and cockroaches well fed.
Rats in Woodstock: railway, drains and food businesses
Rats are Woodstock's biggest pest problem. Brown rats live along the railway reserve on the lower edge of the suburb and in the old brick stormwater and sewer drains that run down towards the harbour, and they come up wherever there's food: restaurant back doors, bakeries, breweries and food production units along Albert Road and Victoria Road. Old warehouses with basements, loading bays and cable ducts give them shelter right next to the food.
For food businesses we set up a regular bait station programme with lockable stations around the outside, traps inside, and a pest log for health inspections. In homes and terraced houses we trap, bait outside and seal gaps around pipes and broken drain covers.
The suburb sits between the mountain slopes and the harbour, with the railway corridor running along the lower edge. Old stormwater systems and drains carry water down towards the sea, and they also carry rats and American cockroaches. The South-Easter blows rubbish around and through open doors in summer.
Which rat is in your Woodstock 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
From the technician
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.
Rats need water daily. Dripping taps, leaking irrigation and pet bowls left outside all help them survive on your property.
Tell-tale signs
Tick every sign you have noticed. It takes ten seconds.
How we handle rat control in Woodstock
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
- Fit drain covers and check that old drain pipes are not broken underground.
- 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.
- Keep compost in a closed bin and do not add meat or cooked food.
- 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 Woodstock
Can you service a Woodstock restaurant after hours?
Yes, after-hours and weekend visits are available on request, so treatments do not disrupt service. You also get a post-treatment report for your records.
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.
Do the rats in Woodstock come from the railway line?
The railway reserve and the old drains are major sources, along with food businesses and bins. A bait station programme around your building's perimeter keeps them in check.
Do Woodstock food businesses need a pest log for health inspectors?
It's strongly recommended. We keep a log of every visit and bait station check that you can show an inspector.
Are rats dangerous to my children?
Rats can bite and spread disease through urine and droppings, so it is worth dealing with them quickly.
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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