Know what you are dealing with
Three rodents cause nearly all the trouble in the Western Cape. The Norway or brown rat burrows in gardens, under slabs and along drains, and is the one you find near rivers, canals and refuse areas. The roof rat, also called the black rat, is a climber that travels along fences, trees and cables into ceilings. The house mouse is much smaller and happily lives inside cupboards, stoves and wall cavities. On commercial sites we often find more than one species at once, which is why a programme beats a once-off treatment. Indigenous striped mice and vlei rats sometimes turn up on smallholdings, but they rarely move indoors.
Myths, mistakes and lesser-known facts
With children and dogs in the house, we keep all bait inside locked stations and use traps indoors. Owls and other wildlife are part of the same thinking.
Food businesses need paperwork as much as traps. A station map, visit records and a report are what an inspector asks for first.
Rodents need only a small gap to get in. A mouse fits through a hole about the size of a pencil, and young rats through not much more.
Warning signs
Tick every sign you have noticed. It takes ten seconds.
Why it matters: Rats and mice contaminate food and surfaces with urine and droppings and can carry diseases such as leptospirosis and salmonella. Their constant gnawing damages wiring, which is a genuine fire risk in roof spaces, and they chew through water pipes and irrigation lines. For food businesses, a rodent sighting by a customer or health inspector can lead to closure and lasting damage to reputation. Left alone, a small population grows quickly, because both rats and mice breed many times a year.
Can you do it yourself?
For one or two mice in a house, a few well-placed snap traps can genuinely solve it. Once you are hearing them in the roof every night or running a business, it needs a proper programme, because random poison from the supermarket often leaves dead rats in the ceiling and puts pets and owls at risk.
Seasonal pattern
Rodent activity indoors peaks in Cape Town's wet winters, from about May to August, when rain floods burrows and drives rats and mice into roofs and buildings looking for shelter. Harvest time on Boland farms also brings a spike as food sources change.
Prevention checklist
- Keep refuse bins closed and away from the walls of the house or building.
- Store pet food, bird seed and chicken feed in sealed metal or thick plastic containers.
- Cut back branches and creepers that touch the roof, because roof rats use them as ladders.
- Seal gaps around pipes, cables and air bricks with steel mesh or cement, not foam alone.
- Pick up fallen fruit and do not leave dog food bowls outside overnight.
- Keep storerooms tidy and stock raised off the floor so you can see what is going on.
What affects the price
The cost depends on the size of the property, how established the rodents are and how much proofing is needed. A house with a few mice in the kitchen is a smaller job than a warehouse or restaurant with rats in the ceiling and drains. Follow-up visits and ongoing contracts for businesses are built into the free quote.
Frequently asked questions
Which areas do you cover for rodent control?
All of Cape Town and the Boland: 133 suburbs from Atlantis and Melkbosstrand to Simon's Town, Khayelitsha and Gordon's Bay. We are based in Brackenfell.
Can I deal with rats and mice myself?
For one or two mice in a house, a few well-placed snap traps can genuinely solve it. Once you are hearing them in the roof every night or running a business, it needs a proper programme, because random poison from the supermarket often leaves dead rats in the ceiling and puts pets and owls at risk.
How do I get a quote?
Call 021 012 5825 or send us a photo on WhatsApp. Quotes are free and we will tell you what you are dealing with.
Do you do rodent control for restaurants?
Yes. We set up a programme with station maps and reports, which is what health inspectors want to see.
Why do the rats keep coming back?
Usually because there is still food or an open entry point. That is why proofing is part of every job.
Can you help on a farm or smallholding?
Yes, we cover the Boland and design the plan around livestock, feed stores and wildlife like owls.