Kuils River sits on the eastern side of the northern suburbs, where the suburbs start giving way to the Bottelary Hills and wine country. The river the town is named after runs right through it, and that green strip of reeds and grass shapes a lot of what we see on call-outs here.
Rodents in Kuils River: what we see
Brown rats travel along the river banks and stormwater pipes, while house mice move in from the farmland side once the weather turns cold. Check outbuildings and garages first, that is usually where the droppings show up before the house.
Most homes are free-standing family houses on decent stands, from older brick bungalows to newer complexes and gated estates on the edges of town. Plenty of properties have outside rooms, garages and Wendy houses that get used for storage, which is exactly where mice settle in. Townhouse complexes share roof voids along a block, so one unit's problem tends to become the neighbours' problem too.
The Kuils River and its stormwater channels carry water through the area most of winter, and the reed beds along them hold plenty of insect and rodent life. Out towards Bottelary the land opens into vineyards and farmland, so field mice and crickets drift in when crops are harvested or the veld dries out. Summers are hot and dry compared with the Peninsula, which pushes ants and cockroaches indoors looking for moisture.
How to tell you have a problem
- Chewed electrical cables or damaged ceiling boards.
- 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.
- Shredded insulation, leaves and twigs found in the roof space.
- Chewed fascia boards, barge boards or roof edges with fresh wood exposed.
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 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.
Prevention that actually works
- 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.
- Use metal mesh, not plastic, over roof vents and gaps.
- 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.
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.
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.
Questions we get asked in Kuils River
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 come out to Kuils River for squirrel control?
Yes. Kuils River is part of our regular Northern Suburbs route, along with Brackenfell, Bellville, Delft, Belhar. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Will you hurt the squirrels?
No. We use one-way exclusion devices and live traps, not poison.
Why do I get so many mice in winter here?
When the farmland and veld towards Bottelary gets cold and wet, field mice look for warm, dry spots and garages and roofs are ideal. Sealing gaps under doors and around pipes before May helps a lot.
Do the rats in Kuils River come from the river itself?
Often, yes. The reeds and stormwater channels along the Kuils River give rats shelter and water, so homes closest to it tend to see them first, particularly after heavy winter rain floods their burrows.
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.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp us
