Ocean View sits on the windy slopes above Kommetjie, a close-knit community where flats and family homes are built fairly tightly together. Wind, fynbos edges and shared buildings decide most of the pest problems we deal with here.
Rodents around Ocean View
Rats live in the veld edges and around refuse points, coming into homes under doors and through roof gaps. Sealed bins and blocking floor-level holes help a lot.
The housing is a mix of council-built flats, semi-detached and freestanding brick homes, with backyard rooms added on many properties. In the flats, shared stairwells, refuse areas and plumbing give cockroaches and rodents an easy path between units. Backyard structures with gaps at ground level let mice and rats straight in. Older roofs sometimes have loose sheeting where birds and rodents get into the ceiling.
Rats and mice, German cockroaches in flats and fleas are the most common concerns. Flies come up around refuse areas in summer. Scorpions and spiders appear in homes near the veld.
Signs to look for
- Scratching and running in the ceiling in the early morning and late afternoon, rather than at night.
- Shredded insulation, leaves and twigs found in the roof space.
- Chewed electrical cables or damaged ceiling boards.
- Dug-up pot plants and bulbs, and nuts buried in garden beds.
- Chewed fascia boards, barge boards or roof edges with fresh wood exposed.
A note from the field
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.
- 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
- 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.
- Use metal mesh, not plastic, over roof vents and gaps.
- 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.
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.
Squirrel Control questions from Ocean View
Are scorpions common in Ocean View homes?
They do show up, especially in houses near the fynbos and rocky ground. Most are not dangerous, but we can treat entry points and send a WhatsApp photo ID if you are unsure.
Will you hurt the squirrels?
No. We use one-way exclusion devices and live traps, not poison.
Do squirrels come back after removal?
They will try, which is why proper proofing with steel mesh is a key part of the job.
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.
Do you come out to Ocean View for squirrel control?
Yes. Ocean View is part of our regular South Peninsula route, along with Kommetjie, Masiphumelele, Noordhoek, Sun Valley. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Why do cockroaches keep coming back in Ocean View flats?
Because they travel through shared pipes and walls between units. Treating neighbouring flats and the refuse area together gives a much longer-lasting result.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp 074 697 2254