Pelican Park is a newer housing area near Zeekoevlei and the Strandfontein coast, with lots of young families. Water nearby means mosquitoes and midges, and new homes on sandy ground bring ants and mice.
Pelican Park: what drives crawling insects here
Ants nest in sandy yards and come indoors in summer. Crickets and spiders move in from open land.
Most homes are newer subsidy and bonded houses, built close together with small yards. Modern construction is fairly tight, but gaps around doors, pipes and roof edges still let in insects and mice. Many homes have added backyard rooms or extensions. Shared open spaces and parks sit between housing blocks.
Mosquitoes and midges from the vlei are a big seasonal issue. Ants and mice in new homes are common. Flies and fleas round out the usual calls.
Signs to look for
- They turn up in shoes, towels or laundry left on the floor.
- Scorpions are seen on walls, patios or in the garage at night.
- Scorpions appear inside after building work, landscaping or clearing rubble nearby.
- A UV torch at night reveals scorpions glowing blue-green in the garden or along the walls.
Most scorpion stings in the Western Cape cause local pain and swelling similar to a bee sting. Stings from thick-tailed Parabuthus species can be much more serious, especially for small children, the elderly and people with medical conditions, and need prompt medical attention. Pets, particularly curious dogs and cats, can also be stung. If someone is stung by a thick-tailed scorpion or shows symptoms such as muscle weakness, trouble swallowing or difficulty breathing, get medical help straight away.
A note from the field
People often try to spray scorpions with household insecticide and are surprised when nothing happens. Scorpions are tough against contact sprays, so a treatment plan has to focus on hiding places, entry points and their food.
How the treatment works
Scorpions are harder to kill with contact sprays than most insects, so we focus on a combination of habitat reduction and targeted treatment. We apply a residual treatment to entry points, door thresholds, wall bases, airbricks and known hiding spots around the outside of the house. Because scorpions follow their food, we also treat for crickets, cockroaches and other insects that attract them. Where burrows are found, they can be treated directly. We pair this with practical advice on clearing debris and sealing gaps, which is often what makes the biggest difference.
- Identify the scorpion
A WhatsApp photo helps us tell whether it is a thick-tailed species that needs extra care.
- Inspect the property
We check walls, rockeries, woodpiles, paving and any gaps where scorpions shelter or get inside.
- Reduce their food
We treat for crickets, cockroaches and other insects that scorpions hunt.
- Treat hiding places and entry points
Residual products go along wall bases, thresholds, airbricks and other key spots outside.
- Remedial advice and report
You get a report with practical changes to the garden and building to make it less welcoming.
Prevention that actually works
- Shake out shoes, boots and towels before using them, especially those left outside or on the floor.
- Move rubble, firewood, bricks and loose stones away from the walls of the house.
- Fit brush strips under doors and seal gaps around pipes, airbricks and window frames.
- Use yellow or warm-coloured outside lights to attract fewer insects, which means fewer scorpions hunting them.
- Wear gloves when gardening, moving stones or clearing debris.
Pricing, honestly
The cost depends on the size of the property and garden, how much hiding space there is in rockeries and walls, and whether an insect treatment is needed to reduce their food. Properties on the edge of open veld or fynbos tend to have more ongoing pressure and may benefit from regular treatments. Follow-ups and any contract options are included in a free quote.
Scorpions are most active in the warm months from late spring to early autumn, especially on hot, still nights. The first rains of the season can flood burrows and drive them indoors or into garages. In winter they become much less active and stay in their burrows.
Questions we get asked in Pelican Park
Do new homes in Pelican Park get mice?
Yes, mice come in from open ground through small gaps around doors and pipes. Sealing those gaps and keeping food stored well keeps them out.
Why are mosquitoes so bad in Pelican Park?
Because Zeekoevlei and the wetlands nearby provide year-round breeding water. Screening windows and clearing standing water around your home makes a real difference.
How do I tell a dangerous scorpion from a harmless one?
Look at the pincers and tail. Big, heavy pincers with a thin tail usually means mild venom; small pincers with a thick tail means you should be careful. Send us a photo if unsure.
Can you get rid of scorpions completely?
Not entirely, especially next to veld or fynbos, because they move in from surrounding land. We can greatly reduce how many come close to and into the house.
What should I do if someone is stung?
Keep the person calm, note what the scorpion looked like or take a photo, and get medical advice. If it was a thick-tailed scorpion or there are symptoms like weakness or breathing trouble, go to a doctor or emergency unit straight away.
Do you come out to Pelican Park for scorpion control?
Yes. Pelican Park is part of our regular Cape Flats route, along with Strandfontein, Lotus River, Grassy Park, Lavender Hill. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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