Mouille Point is a strip of apartment blocks facing the sea between the lighthouse and the Waterfront, so most of our work is in flats, basements and bin rooms. Sea air, shared services and a busy promenade shape almost every pest problem here.
Rodents in Mouille Point: what we see
Norway rats move between the stormwater system, the Waterfront and the basement bin rooms here. Mice are more likely in ground-floor flats and storerooms.
Most people live in mid-rise and high-rise blocks along Beach Road, many built in the sixties and seventies with newer luxury developments in between. Shared refuse rooms, service ducts and basement parking connect every unit in a building, so a cockroach problem in one flat rarely stays there. Balconies facing the ocean collect gull and pigeon droppings. Body corporates usually want the whole block treated at once, which works far better than one flat at a time.
Cockroaches in apartment kitchens and ducts are the most common call, followed by rats and mice around bin rooms. Fishmoths and silverfish thrive in the damp sea air. Gulls and pigeons on balconies are a constant complaint.
Signs to look for
- Squirrels seen jumping from a tree onto the roof and disappearing under the tiles.
- Shredded insulation, leaves and twigs found in the roof space.
- Chewed fascia boards, barge boards or roof edges with fresh wood exposed.
- 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.
Something most people miss
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.
Prevention that actually works
- Use metal mesh, not plastic, over roof vents and gaps.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
How do I stop gulls messing on my Mouille Point balcony?
Bird netting or a tension wire system over the balcony is the most effective option, and spikes help on narrow ledges. We remove nests and clean up first so the birds do not keep returning.
Will you hurt the squirrels?
No. We use one-way exclusion devices and live traps, not poison.
Are grey squirrels protected in Cape Town?
Grey squirrels are not an indigenous species. We still remove them humanely and do not use poison.
What if there are babies in the roof?
We check for young before sealing, because sealing them in causes suffering, smells and more damage.
Do cockroaches in Mouille Point flats come from the sea or the drains?
The drains, mostly. American cockroaches live in the sewer and stormwater lines and come up through floor drains and ducts, especially after winter storms.
Do you come out to Mouille Point for squirrel control?
Yes. Mouille Point is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Green Point, Three Anchor Bay, Sea Point, De Waterkant. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp 074 697 2254