Goodwood straddles Voortrekker Road, with older family homes on the quiet streets and shops, workshops and takeaways on the main drag. We get a fair split between householders with mice in the roof and businesses fighting cockroaches.
Goodwood: what drives rodents here
Roof rats and mice get into ceilings through gaps at the eaves and around pipes, and Norway rats burrow under outside rooms. The railway reserve gives them a corridor.
Residential streets are lined with post-war freestanding homes, many with tiled roofs, outside rooms and big backyards. Voortrekker Road and the streets off it carry shops, motor workshops, takeaways and flats above businesses. Older homes often have suspended timber floors and old roof timbers. Larger venues and the showgrounds bring crowds and food stalls when events are on.
The area is flat and fairly built-up, sitting between the N1 and the railway line. Summers get hot and dry once you move inland from the coast, and winters are wet and cold. Open ground near the railway and the N1 lets rodents move about.
Mice and rats in roofs, German cockroaches in businesses and flats, and Argentine ants in summer are the bulk of our Goodwood calls. Pigeons along Voortrekker Road and fleas with pets fill in the rest.
A note from the field
Because we do not use poison for squirrels, there is no risk to children, pets or owls from the treatment.
Many people think squirrels are harmless, but they chew through cables and can cause real damage in a roof.
Signs to look for
- Squirrels seen jumping from a tree onto the roof and disappearing under the tiles.
- Dug-up pot plants and bulbs, and nuts buried in garden beds.
- Chewed fascia boards, barge boards or roof edges with fresh wood exposed.
- Shredded insulation, leaves and twigs found in the roof space.
- Scratching and running in the ceiling in the early morning and late afternoon, rather than at night.
- Chewed electrical cables or damaged ceiling boards.
How we handle squirrel control in Goodwood
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
- 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.
- Do not feed squirrels in the garden, however cute they are.
- Use metal mesh, not plastic, over roof vents and gaps.
How much will it cost?
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.
You can trim the trees and fix obvious gaps yourself, but sealing a roof with squirrels still inside is a mistake that leads to trapped animals and more damage. Getting them out humanely and proofing the whole roof line properly is a job worth getting professional help for.
Squirrel Control questions from Goodwood
Do you come out to Goodwood for squirrel control?
Yes. Goodwood is part of our regular Northern Suburbs route, along with Parow, Elsies River, Epping, Thornton. 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.
Can you do regular cockroach control for my Voortrekker Road takeaway?
Yes. We can set up a regular service with after-hours visits on request, and a post-treatment report after each visit.
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 in my Goodwood ceiling at night?
It is usually roof rats or mice, which are active at night. Check for droppings in the roof, and send us a photo on WhatsApp so we can confirm what you're dealing with.
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.
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