Squirrel Control in Newlands

Newlands sits on the wet side of Table Mountain under big oaks and pines, and that moisture drives a lot of what we see here. Squirrels in roofs, fishmoths in cupboards and borer in old timber are bread and butter for us in this suburb.

Newlands: what drives rodents here

Grey squirrels nest in roof spaces under the oaks, chew wiring and make a racket at dawn. Rats come down from the forest edge and along the river into compost heaps and ceilings.

There is a real mix: large older homes on generous plots, Newlands Village cottages, newer cluster homes and apartment blocks closer to Main Road and the sports grounds. Many of the older houses have timber floors, wooden ceilings and roof spaces that stay cool and damp. Leafy gardens and big trees overhang roofs, giving squirrels and rats a direct route in. Some homes have thatch outbuildings or pergolas.

Newlands is one of the wettest suburbs in Cape Town, with Newlands Forest and the Table Mountain National Park slopes right above it and the Liesbeek running through. Winter rain is heavy and long, and many properties stay shaded and damp for months. Mountain streams and forest edges bring wildlife close to gardens.

Signs to look for

1. Scratching and running in the ceiling in the early morning and late afternoon, rather than at night.
2. Chewed fascia boards, barge boards or roof edges with fresh wood exposed.
3. Shredded insulation, leaves and twigs found in the roof space.
4. Squirrels seen jumping from a tree onto the roof and disappearing under the tiles.

A note from the field

Many people think squirrels are harmless, but they chew through cables and can cause real damage in a roof.

Grey squirrels were brought to Cape Town in the late 1800s and have spread across the Southern Suburbs since then.

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.

1. Roof inspection

   We check the roof space and outside roof line to find nests and every entry point.

2. Exclusion or trapping

   One-way exclusion devices or live traps are fitted so the squirrels leave the roof.

3. Confirm it is empty

   We check that no squirrels or babies are left inside before anything is sealed.

4. Proofing

   Entry points are sealed with steel mesh and repairs, so they cannot chew back in.

5. Report

   You get a report with details of the work done and any trees to trim.

Prevention that actually works

• Fit squirrel guards on bird feeders, or move them away from the house.
• Do not feed squirrels in the garden, however cute they are.
• 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.
• Trim tree branches so they are at least two metres away from the roof.

What affects the price

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.

Squirrel Control questions from Newlands

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