Bonteheuwel is a close-knit, densely built suburb boxed in by the railway line, the Epping industrial area and busy roads. Pest problems here mostly come down to shared walls, backyard rooms and drains that struggle in winter.
Rodents around Bonteheuwel
Brown rats live along the railway reserve and around refuse points at the flats, and they burrow under backyard rooms built straight onto the sand. House mice move between joined roofs all winter.
Rows of semi-detached council houses and three-storey flat blocks make up most of Bonteheuwel, and many families have added Wendy houses or brick rooms at the back. Every shared wall and joined roof is a route for mice and German cockroaches, so one neighbour's problem soon becomes the next one's. The flats have communal stairwells and refuse points where rats feed at night.
Rats and German cockroaches are what people ask us about most. Fleas and bed bugs follow, because houses are full and pets live close to people. Flies around refuse points and mosquitoes after the winter floods are seasonal.
Something most people miss
Many people think squirrels are harmless, but they chew through cables and can cause real damage in a roof.
Because we do not use poison for squirrels, there is no risk to children, pets or owls from the treatment.
Signs to look for
- Squirrels seen jumping from a tree onto the roof and disappearing under the tiles.
- Shredded insulation, leaves and twigs found in the roof space.
- Chewed fascia boards, barge boards or roof edges with fresh wood exposed.
- Dug-up pot plants and bulbs, and nuts buried in garden beds.
Our process, step by step
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.
Keeping them out afterwards
- Use metal mesh, not plastic, over roof vents and gaps.
- Do not feed squirrels in the garden, however cute they are.
- Pick up acorns and fallen fruit regularly if you have big trees close to the house.
- Trim tree branches so they are at least two metres away from the roof.
- Fit squirrel guards on bird feeders, or move them away from the house.
Pricing, honestly
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 Bonteheuwel
Can you treat a whole block of flats in Bonteheuwel for cockroaches?
Yes, and that is the best approach, because cockroaches move along shared pipes and walls. Treating every unit at once gives a much longer-lasting result.
Do squirrels come back after removal?
They will try, which is why proper proofing with steel mesh is a key part of the job.
Are grey squirrels protected in Cape Town?
Grey squirrels are not an indigenous species. We still remove them humanely and do not use poison.
Do you come out to Bonteheuwel for squirrel control?
Yes. Bonteheuwel is part of our regular Cape Flats route, along with Langa, Bishop Lavis, Epping, Elsies River. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
What if there are babies in the roof?
We check for young before sealing, because sealing them in causes suffering, smells and more damage.
Do rats in Bonteheuwel come from the Epping industrial area?
Some do, since warehouses and food plants nearby give them food and shelter. Most, though, live along the railway line and around refuse points, so treating close to home matters most.
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