Melkbos still feels like a seaside village, even with the newer estates spreading along the R27. Wind, sand and kelp on the beach set the tone for what bugs people here, along with the open veld that surrounds the town.
Rodents in Melkbosstrand: what we see
Field mice and striped mice move in from the strandveld, especially in estates bordering open land. Rats are less common than in the city but do turn up around restaurant storerooms and bins in the village.
The old village has holiday cottages and family homes close to the beach, while the newer side is all security estates, golf estate houses and townhouse complexes. Holiday homes left closed for months tend to collect mice and fishmoths. Estates backing onto open strandveld get more field mice, crickets and spiders than the streets in the village.
Sand dunes and coastal strandveld run along the shore, and the Koeberg nature reserve area lies to the north. The South-Easter and the winter north-westers both blow hard, driving sand and salt into every gap. Rotting kelp on the beach after storms brings out kelp flies in their thousands.
Signs to look for
- Shredded insulation, leaves and twigs found in the roof space.
- Chewed electrical cables or damaged ceiling boards.
- Scratching and running in the ceiling in the early morning and late afternoon, rather than at night.
- Dug-up pot plants and bulbs, and nuts buried in garden beds.
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.
From the technician
The worst mistake is sealing the hole while the squirrels are still inside. They will chew a new way out, often through the ceiling.
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.
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.
- 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.
Keeping them out afterwards
- 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.
- Trim tree branches so they are at least two metres away from the roof.
- Fit squirrel guards on bird feeders, or move them away from the house.
- Use metal mesh, not plastic, over roof vents and gaps.
Pricing, honestly
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
Do squirrels come back after removal?
They will try, which is why proper proofing with steel mesh is a key part of the job.
Can squirrels damage my roof?
Yes. They chew fascia boards, roof edges and cables, and they nest in insulation.
Do estates near the veld get more mice?
Yes. Homes backing onto strandveld see more field mice, especially when the weather turns cold. Sealing gaps and placing bait stations along the boundary helps.
Are grey squirrels protected in Cape Town?
Grey squirrels are not an indigenous species. We still remove them humanely and do not use poison.
Why are there so many flies on Melkbos beach after a storm?
Those are kelp flies breeding in rotting kelp washed up by the waves. They usually die down once the kelp dries out or is cleared, but they can drift into nearby homes in the meantime.
Do you come out to Melkbosstrand for squirrel control?
Yes. Melkbosstrand is part of our regular Blaauwberg & West Coast route, along with Bloubergstrand, Atlantis, Table View, Parklands. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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