Heathfield is a quiet, family suburb sitting between Diep River and Retreat, with the railway on one side and Main Road businesses nearby. The calls here are pretty classic Southern Suburbs fare: rats in the roof, ants in the kitchen and a few fleas each summer.
Heathfield: what drives rodents here
Rats move along the railway reserve and stormwater lines into back gardens and roofs. Mice are common in garages and storerooms, particularly where pet food is kept.
The housing is mostly free-standing family homes and semi-detached houses from the mid-twentieth century, with tiled or corrugated roofs and modest gardens. There are also some townhouse complexes and a few blocks of flats. Older timber roof trusses can host borer, and the gaps where extensions join the original house are a favourite entry point for mice.
Rats and mice, especially in winter when they come inside for warmth, are top of the list. Argentine ants in kitchens, fleas from pets and mosquitoes after rain round it out. Cockroaches are more of an issue near the Main Road shops and takeaways.
How to tell you have a problem
- Chewed electrical cables or damaged ceiling boards.
- Dug-up pot plants and bulbs, and nuts buried in garden beds.
- Squirrels seen jumping from a tree onto the roof and disappearing under the tiles.
- 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.
A note from the field
Grey squirrels were brought to Cape Town in the late 1800s and have spread across the Southern Suburbs since then.
Because we do not use poison for squirrels, there is no risk to children, pets or owls from the treatment.
How the treatment works
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.
Stopping a repeat visit
- Fit squirrel guards on bird feeders, or move them away from the house.
- Pick up acorns and fallen fruit regularly if you have big trees close to the house.
- Use metal mesh, not plastic, over roof vents and gaps.
- 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.
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.
Questions we get asked in Heathfield
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.
Do rats in Heathfield come from the railway line?
Often, yes. The railway reserve gives rats cover and food, and homes backing onto it see more activity, so we focus bait stations along the boundary wall.
Do you come out to Heathfield for squirrel control?
Yes. Heathfield is part of our regular Southern Suburbs route, along with Diep River, Retreat, Kirstenhof, Bergvliet. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
How soon can you come out to Heathfield?
Our average turnaround is about 48 hours, although it varies with the season. If it is urgent, call our 24-hour emergency line for advice and to book.
Do squirrels come back after removal?
They will try, which is why proper proofing with steel mesh is a key part of the job.
What if there are babies in the roof?
We check for young before sealing, because sealing them in causes suffering, smells and more damage.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp 074 697 2254