Fish Hoek is a beach town with a strong community, plenty of retirees and a flat valley that cuts right across the peninsula toward Noordhoek. A lot of our work here is helping people in older homes keep mice, fishmoths and ants under control without any fuss.
Fish Hoek: what drives rodents here
Mice and roof rats move into ceilings and packed garages, particularly from May onwards. Sealing gaps under tiles and around geyser pipes is half the job.
Most homes are freestanding mid-century houses with tiled roofs and established gardens, alongside retirement complexes, flats near the beach and the shops on Main Road. Decades of wind loosen roof tiles and leave gaps under the eaves that mice and rats find. Retirement villages with shared dining rooms and kitchens need regular cockroach checks. Many households have lived in the same place for a long time, so garages and storerooms tend to be full, which rodents appreciate.
Worth knowing
When a technician inspects for squirrels, the first thing he looks at is the trees around the house, because the branches show where the squirrels are jumping onto the roof.
Because we do not use poison for squirrels, there is no risk to children, pets or owls from the treatment.
What gives them away
- Dug-up pot plants and bulbs, and nuts buried in garden beds.
- 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.
- Chewed electrical cables or damaged ceiling boards.
- Squirrels seen jumping from a tree onto the roof and disappearing under the tiles.
Squirrels in the roof chew cables, which is a fire risk, and they damage insulation and ceiling boards. Their urine and droppings can stain ceilings and cause smells. They also chew through irrigation pipes, damage fruit trees and dig up gardens. A squirrel that dies in the roof leaves an unpleasant smell for weeks.
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.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our squirrel control service works.
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.
- Trim tree branches so they are at least two metres away from the roof.
- Use metal mesh, not plastic, over roof vents and gaps.
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.
Frequently asked questions
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.
Can squirrels damage my roof?
Yes. They chew fascia boards, roof edges and cables, and they nest in insulation.
Do you come out to Fish Hoek for squirrel control?
Yes. Fish Hoek is part of our regular South Peninsula route, along with Clovelly, Sun Valley, Noordhoek, Kalk Bay. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Why do I find scorpions in my Fish Hoek garden?
Homes close to the mountain slopes are right on the edge of their natural habitat. Clearing rock piles and debris near the house and keeping doors sealed at the bottom helps a lot.
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 treat retirement complexes in Fish Hoek?
Yes. We work with complexes on cockroach, rodent and ant control and can do disinfection of shared areas, choosing the least-toxic effective option first.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp 074 697 2254