Ottery is half residential, half working area, with factories and workshops along Ottery Road and family homes in the streets around them. Rodents from the industrial side and ants from sandy gardens keep us busy here.
Ottery: what drives rodents here
Norway rats nest along stormwater channels and around industrial yards and move into nearby homes. Roof rats get into ceilings through gaps in older roofs.
Homes are mostly freestanding brick houses with tiled or iron roofs and small gardens, plus townhouses and a few flats. The industrial strip has warehouses, workshops and storage yards with roller doors and open bin areas. Rodents move between yards and homes, especially where properties back onto industrial land. Backyard rooms and garages are common hiding places.
Ottery is on flat Cape Flats sand that warms quickly in summer and drains well, though low spots pool after heavy winter rain. The vleis and wetlands toward Grassy Park are not far away. Open land and stormwater channels around the edges offer rodent cover.
Worth knowing
When a technician inspects for squirrels, the first thing he looks at is the trees around the house, because the branches show where the squirrels are jumping onto the roof.
Because we do not use poison for squirrels, there is no risk to children, pets or owls from the treatment.
Signs to look for
- Chewed electrical cables or damaged ceiling boards.
- Chewed fascia boards, barge boards or roof edges with fresh wood exposed.
- Shredded insulation, leaves and twigs found in the roof space.
- Scratching and running in the ceiling in the early morning and late afternoon, rather than at night.
- Squirrels seen jumping from a tree onto the roof and disappearing under the tiles.
- Dug-up pot plants and bulbs, and nuts buried in garden beds.
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.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our squirrel control service works.
Stopping a repeat visit
- 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.
- Do not feed squirrels in the garden, however cute they are.
- 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.
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.
Squirrel Control questions from Ottery
Do rats from the Ottery industrial area move into homes?
They can, especially where homes back onto yards or stormwater channels. Sealing gaps and keeping bins closed limits how often they cross over.
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 you come out to Ottery for squirrel control?
Yes. Ottery is part of our regular Southern Suburbs route, along with Southfield, Grassy Park, Lansdowne, Plumstead. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Are grey squirrels protected in Cape Town?
Grey squirrels are not an indigenous species. We still remove them humanely and do not use poison.
Why are ants so bad in Ottery in summer?
The sandy soil is perfect for nesting, and dry summers push them indoors for water. Baiting their trails and sealing entry points works best.
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.
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