What we deal 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.
Signs to look for
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.
How we treat it
Our rodent work follows a 6-step regime: we find the harbourage, look at food and water sources, proof entry points, do a bait risk assessment, set a tailored plan and leave you a report. Inside homes we lean on snap traps and sealed stations so there are no dying rodents in the walls. Outside and on commercial sites we use lockable, tamper-resistant bait stations placed and recorded so children, pets and wildlife cannot get to the bait. Proofing is where the long-term win is: steel mesh, door brushes and sealing gaps around pipes and cables. Commercial clients usually go onto a contract with scheduled checks.
- Harbourage
We find where the rodents are nesting, from roof voids to burrows and storerooms.
- Food and water
We point out the food, rubbish and water sources keeping them on site.
- Ingress proofing
Gaps, pipes, vents and doors are proofed so rodents cannot get back in.
- Bait risk assessment
We decide where baiting is safe and where traps are the better choice, with pets, children and wildlife in mind.
- Tailored plan
Traps and tamper-resistant stations are set out on a plan that suits your property.
- Report
You get a written report and, for businesses, a station map and follow-up schedule.
Things most people don't know
Poison alone is not rodent control. Without proofing the gaps and removing the food, new rodents simply move into the space the dead ones left.
The most common mistake we see is bait thrown loose into the roof. It gets dragged around, picked up by pets and leaves dead rodents in the ceiling.
When a technician walks a site, the first thing he checks is the outside of the building at ground level, for burrows, rub marks and gaps around pipes.
When it peaks in Cape Town
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.
DIY or call a professional?
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.
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.
Preventing it coming back
- 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.
Frequently asked questions
How long does rodent control take to work?
You usually see a clear drop in activity within one to two weeks. Proofing then stops new rodents moving in.
Is rodent bait safe around pets?
Bait is kept inside lockable, tamper-resistant stations that pets and children cannot open, and indoors we often use traps instead.
Will I have dead rodents in the roof?
We use traps in the roof where possible to avoid this. If baiting is needed, placement is planned to reduce the chance.
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.
Rodent Control by area
We cover all of these suburbs from our base in Brackenfell. Pick yours for local advice.
