Clovelly Squirrel Control

Clovelly is a small pocket squeezed between the mountain and the railway line on the way into Fish Hoek. Most calls here come from homes that back onto fynbos or the golf course, so a good share of what turns up indoors has walked in from the veld.

Clovelly: what drives rodents here

Roof rats in ceilings and mice under suspended floors, with activity picking up once the first winter fronts arrive. Mesh the vents under timber floors rather than blocking them, so the floor can still breathe.

Housing is mostly freestanding family homes, many stepped into the slope with retaining walls, split levels and sub-floor voids underneath. Older houses often still have timber floors and wooden window frames that have taken decades of salty air. Those voids under suspended floors and the gaps around old garage doors are exactly where mice settle in for winter. A few flats and townhouses closer to Main Road add the usual shared-bin and shared-roof issues.

Rodents moving down off the mountain edge in the cooler months are the classic Clovelly call. Argentine ants come a close second, especially in January and February when they trail along skirtings to the kitchen sink. Homes near the river mouth get more mosquitoes than you'd expect, and paper wasps like the sunny eaves on the upper slope.

From the technician

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.

Tell-tale signs

1. Shredded insulation, leaves and twigs found in the roof space.
2. Scratching and running in the ceiling in the early morning and late afternoon, rather than at night.
3. Dug-up pot plants and bulbs, and nuts buried in garden beds.
4. Squirrels seen jumping from a tree onto the roof and disappearing under the tiles.
5. Chewed electrical cables or damaged ceiling boards.
6. Chewed fascia boards, barge boards or roof edges with fresh wood exposed.

How we handle squirrel control in Clovelly

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.

1. Roof inspection

   We check the roof space and outside roof line to find nests and every entry point.

2. Exclusion or trapping

   One-way exclusion devices or live traps are fitted so the squirrels leave the roof.

3. Confirm it is empty

   We check that no squirrels or babies are left inside before anything is sealed.

4. Proofing

   Entry points are sealed with steel mesh and repairs, so they cannot chew back in.

5. Report

   You get a report with details of the work done and any trees to trim.

Stopping a repeat visit

• Trim tree branches so they are at least two metres away from the roof.
• Check fascia boards and roof edges each year for chewed spots and repair them quickly.
• 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.
• Use metal mesh, not plastic, over roof vents and gaps.

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 Clovelly

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