Obs is a neighbourhood of narrow streets, terraced cottages and a Lower Main Road lined with restaurants and bars. Put two rivers, a hospital precinct and a lot of shared housing together and you get a steady diet of rat, cockroach and bed bug work.
Observatory: what drives rodents here
Norway rats burrow along the river banks and come up through old drains and broken air bricks into floor voids. Roof rats run along the walls and overhead cables between terraces.
Rows of little Victorian cottages share walls, roof spaces and sometimes back lanes, so pests move from house to house without ever going outside. Plenty have been split into digs for students and hospital staff. Restaurants and bars on Lower Main Road have cellars, back kitchens and bins in tight yards. Old suspended floors, cracked air bricks and lean-to kitchens added later are typical weak spots.
The Liesbeek and Black rivers meet on the eastern edge of the suburb, with the old River Club land and the observatory grounds alongside. Devil's Peak and Groote Schuur estate rise to the west. Winter rain runs down from the mountain toward the rivers, and the low-lying streets near the water stay damp.
Rats are constant, particularly toward the river side and behind the Lower Main Road kitchens. German cockroaches move through shared kitchens and terraces. Bed bugs and fleas travel with tenants, and mosquitoes come off the rivers in late summer.
Something most people miss
Because we do not use poison for squirrels, there is no risk to children, pets or owls from the treatment.
Many people think squirrels are harmless, but they chew through cables and can cause real damage in a roof.
Signs to look for
- Shredded insulation, leaves and twigs found in the roof space.
- Chewed fascia boards, barge boards or roof edges with fresh wood exposed.
- Chewed electrical cables or damaged ceiling boards.
- Dug-up pot plants and bulbs, and nuts buried in garden beds.
- 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.
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.
Prevention that actually works
- Fit squirrel guards on bird feeders, or move them away from the house.
- Use metal mesh, not plastic, over roof vents and gaps.
- 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.
- Check fascia boards and roof edges each year for chewed spots and repair them quickly.
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.
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
Do you come out to Observatory for squirrel control?
Yes. Observatory is part of our regular Southern Suburbs route, along with Mowbray, Salt River, Woodstock, Pinelands. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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.
Can squirrels damage my roof?
Yes. They chew fascia boards, roof edges and cables, and they nest in insulation.
Can you treat a whole row of cottages in Obs at once?
Yes, and we recommend it when cockroaches or rats are moving through shared walls. Coordinated treatment stops them simply shifting next door.
Are grey squirrels protected in Cape Town?
Grey squirrels are not an indigenous species. We still remove them humanely and do not use poison.
Do Observatory rats come from the Black River and Liesbeek?
A lot of them do. The banks give them burrowing ground and water, and the old drain network links the river to homes, so blocking air bricks and drain gaps matters here.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp 074 697 2254