Atlantis is a planned town about 40 km up the West Coast, with a large industrial area beside its housing. It is windy, sandy and fairly isolated, so pests here have a lot to do with dune sand, open veld and the factories and warehouses on the edge of town.
The local picture in Atlantis
Brown rats and mice come in from the open veld and from factory yards, and the sand lets them dig under walls and slabs. Industrial sites need tamper-proof bait stations around their perimeter.
Homes are mainly brick council houses and semi-detached units built from the 1970s onwards, plus newer RDP housing and backyard structures in suburbs like Saxonsburg, Protea Park and Witsand. Small yards and shared walls let rats and cockroaches move between neighbours easily. The industrial zone has big warehouses, food and manufacturing plants that need proper commercial monitoring programmes.
Rodents, especially in homes near open veld and in the industrial area, are a constant. Ants and crickets do well in the sandy ground, and scorpions turn up more here than in most of Cape Town. Flies build up in summer around bins and stock holdings.
What gives them away
- Squirrels seen jumping from a tree onto the roof and disappearing under the tiles.
- Scratching and running in the ceiling in the early morning and late afternoon, rather than at night.
- Chewed fascia boards, barge boards or roof edges with fresh wood exposed.
- Shredded insulation, leaves and twigs found in the roof space.
- Dug-up pot plants and bulbs, and nuts buried in garden beds.
- Chewed electrical cables or damaged ceiling boards.
Something most people miss
Because we do not use poison for squirrels, there is no risk to children, pets or owls from the treatment.
What happens when we come out
We do not use poison for squirrels. Our approach is exclusion: we find every entry point and fit one-way exclusion devices so the squirrels can get out but not back in. Where it makes sense, live cage traps are used to remove squirrels from the roof. Once the roof is empty, we close the gaps with steel mesh and repair chewed areas so they cannot get back in. We also advise on trimming branches that give squirrels easy access to the roof.
- Roof inspection
We check the roof space and outside roof line to find nests and every entry point.
- Exclusion or trapping
One-way exclusion devices or live traps are fitted so the squirrels leave the roof.
- Confirm it is empty
We check that no squirrels or babies are left inside before anything is sealed.
- Proofing
Entry points are sealed with steel mesh and repairs, so they cannot chew back in.
- Report
You get a report with details of the work done and any trees to trim.
Stopping a repeat visit
- Pick up acorns and fallen fruit regularly if you have big trees close to the house.
- Do not feed squirrels in the garden, however cute they are.
- Check fascia boards and roof edges each year for chewed spots and repair them quickly.
- Use metal mesh, not plastic, over roof vents and gaps.
- Trim tree branches so they are at least two metres away from the roof.
What affects the price
The cost depends on how many entry points there are, how high the roof is and how much repair and proofing is needed. A single gap is quick to deal with, but an older roof with many chewed areas takes longer. Trapping and follow-up visits are included in the free quote.
Squirrels in Cape Town breed mainly in late winter and spring, and again in summer, and that is when they look for sheltered nesting places such as roofs. Autumn is also busy, as they gather acorns and nuts from the oak trees.
Squirrel Control questions from Atlantis
How do I know it is squirrels and not rats?
Squirrels are active during the day, especially early morning, while rats are mostly active at night.
Are scorpions common in Atlantis?
They are more common here than in most of Cape Town because of the sandveld and open veld around the town. Most are thick-tailed types found under rocks, rubble and wood, so clearing yards and treating hiding spots makes a big difference.
Can you do pest control for factories in the Atlantis industrial area?
Yes, we set up regular monitoring with bait stations, insect checks and written reports. That suits food plants and warehouses that need records for audits.
Do squirrels come back after removal?
They will try, which is why proper proofing with steel mesh is a key part of the job.
Can squirrels damage my roof?
Yes. They chew fascia boards, roof edges and cables, and they nest in insulation.
Do you come out to Atlantis for squirrel control?
Yes. Atlantis is part of our regular Blaauwberg & West Coast route, along with Mamre, Melkbosstrand, Bloubergstrand. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp 074 697 2254