Brooklyn is an older, compact suburb near Ysterplaat Air Force Base and the industrial pockets around Paarden Eiland and Montague Gardens. Small houses, busy roads and nearby warehouses mean rats and cockroaches are the main pests we deal with here.
Rodents around Brooklyn
Brown rats run the stormwater drains and the edges of the warehouse yards towards Paarden Eiland, then slip under suspended wooden floors through broken air bricks. In June and July, mice move up into the roof space.
Brooklyn is mostly small, older freestanding and semi-detached houses on narrow plots, many with outbuildings or flats added in the back. Older wooden floors and tiled or corrugated roofs often have gaps where rodents get in. Some properties are rented out room by room, which can spread bed bugs and cockroaches.
The suburb is low-lying, close to the coast and the Diep River estuary further north. Winter rain and blocked stormwater drains cause local flooding. The South-Easter blows hard in summer, but the area is flat and gets hot on still days.
Rats from the industrial areas and drains are a common issue, along with German cockroaches in older kitchens. Bed bugs and fleas show up in rentals. Flies and mosquitoes increase in summer.
Tell-tale signs
- Chewed fascia boards, barge boards or roof edges with fresh wood exposed.
- Scratching and running in the ceiling in the early morning and late afternoon, rather than at night.
- Squirrels seen jumping from a tree onto the roof and disappearing under the tiles.
- 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.
Worth knowing
Grey squirrels were brought to Cape Town in the late 1800s and have spread across the Southern Suburbs since then.
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.
Prevention that actually works
- Use metal mesh, not plastic, over roof vents and gaps.
- Pick up acorns and fallen fruit regularly if you have big trees close to the house.
- Fit squirrel guards on bird feeders, or move them away from the house.
- Check fascia boards and roof edges each year for chewed spots and repair them quickly.
- Trim tree branches so they are at least two metres away from the roof.
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 Brooklyn
What if there are babies in the roof?
We check for young before sealing, because sealing them in causes suffering, smells and more damage.
Why do I hear scratching under my wooden floor in Brooklyn?
It is usually rats that got in through broken air bricks. We bait and seal the vents so they cannot return.
Do the warehouses near Brooklyn bring rats into homes?
They can, since warehouses provide food and shelter. Most rats still live in drains and gardens, so we bait and seal around your house too.
Do squirrels come back after removal?
They will try, which is why proper proofing with steel mesh is a key part of the job.
Do you come out to Brooklyn for squirrel control?
Yes. Brooklyn is part of our regular Northern Suburbs route, along with Rugby, Milnerton, Maitland, Montague Gardens. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Can squirrels damage my roof?
Yes. They chew fascia boards, roof edges and cables, and they nest in insulation.
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