Imizamo Yethu climbs the slope above the Hout Bay valley, with homes packed closely together on the hillside. Rats, cockroaches and flies are the everyday pests, and the steep ground makes stormwater and refuse a constant challenge.
Rodents around Imizamo Yethu
Rats nest under floors, in rubble and along drainage channels, and move between homes at night. Community-wide baiting gives much better results than treating single homes.
The area is a mix of informal structures built from zinc and timber, brick houses and some newer formal housing projects lower down. Homes are very close together, often sharing walls or sitting just a metre apart. Gaps in zinc and timber walls let rodents in easily, and they move quickly from one home to the next.
Rats are the main problem, followed by German cockroaches and flies in summer. Fleas and bed bugs come up in crowded homes. Mice get into food stores in shops and homes.
From the technician
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.
Landlords often get the call from tenants about noises in the ceiling. Proofing the roof is a one-time investment that saves repeated call-outs.
Tell-tale signs
- Chewed electrical cables or damaged ceiling boards.
- 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.
- Scratching and running in the ceiling in the early morning and late afternoon, rather than at night.
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.
Keeping them out afterwards
- Fit squirrel guards on bird feeders, or move them away from the house.
- Trim tree branches so they are at least two metres away from the roof.
- 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.
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 Imizamo Yethu
Is it safe to use rat bait around children in Imizamo Yethu?
We use tamper-resistant bait stations so children and pets cannot reach the bait. We always explain where they are placed and what to watch for.
Do you come out to Imizamo Yethu for squirrel control?
Yes. Imizamo Yethu is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Hout Bay, Llandudno, Constantia. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Can you treat a whole row of homes in Imizamo Yethu for rats at once?
Yes, and that is the best way to do it. When neighbours treat together, the rats cannot simply move next door, so the results last longer.
Will you hurt the squirrels?
No. We use one-way exclusion devices and live traps, not poison.
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.
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