Noordhoek still has a semi-rural feel, with smallholdings, horses, wetlands and big gardens running down to Long Beach. That means flies, rodents around feed stores and thatch problems are more common here than in town.
The local picture in Noordhoek
Rats and mice are drawn to horse feed, chicken food and compost on smallholdings. Bait stations must be placed carefully so pets, horses and wildlife cannot reach them.
Properties range from old farmhouses and thatched cottages on smallholdings to newer houses in security estates and the busy Farm Village area. Stables, tack rooms, chicken runs and feed sheds are common and attract rats and mice. Thatched roofs need regular checks for borer and nesting birds. Many homes are spread out with outbuildings, which gives pests more places to hide.
Noordhoek lies in a broad valley between Chapman's Peak and Silvermine, with wetlands and vleis behind Long Beach and the Noordhoek Common running toward Kommetjie. Winter rain floods low-lying parts of the valley, and summer brings the South-Easter and dry fynbos. Wildlife from the Table Mountain National Park edges is never far away.
Something most people miss
Grey squirrels were brought to Cape Town in the late 1800s and have spread across the Southern Suburbs since then.
How to tell you have a problem
- Dug-up pot plants and bulbs, and nuts buried in garden beds.
- Shredded insulation, leaves and twigs found in the roof space.
- 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.
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.
Our process, step by step
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
- 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.
- Do not feed squirrels in the garden, however cute they are.
- 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.
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.
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 you come out to Noordhoek for squirrel control?
Yes. Noordhoek is part of our regular South Peninsula route, along with Kommetjie, Masiphumelele, Fish Hoek, Sun Valley. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Can you treat rats on a Noordhoek smallholding without risking horses or dogs?
Yes. We use tamper-resistant bait stations placed where animals cannot reach them, and use traps where needed, choosing the least-toxic effective option.
Can squirrels damage my roof?
Yes. They chew fascia boards, roof edges and cables, and they nest in insulation.
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 thatched roofs in Noordhoek need borer treatment?
They often do, especially older thatch with poles and laths that have been damp. We inspect the thatch and timber and advise on treatment and a beetle certificate if you are selling.
Are grey squirrels protected in Cape Town?
Grey squirrels are not an indigenous species. We still remove them humanely and do not use poison.
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