Pelican Park is a newer housing area near Zeekoevlei and the Strandfontein coast, with lots of young families. Water nearby means mosquitoes and midges, and new homes on sandy ground bring ants and mice.
Rodents around Pelican Park
Mice come in from open ground into homes and backyard rooms, and rats follow refuse and stormwater channels. Sealing gaps under doors helps a lot.
Most homes are newer subsidy and bonded houses, built close together with small yards. Modern construction is fairly tight, but gaps around doors, pipes and roof edges still let in insects and mice. Many homes have added backyard rooms or extensions. Shared open spaces and parks sit between housing blocks.
Pelican Park sits on flat, sandy ground between Zeekoevlei and the False Bay coast, near the Strandfontein bird sanctuary. The South-Easter blows sand and litter in summer, and winter rain can pool in low spots. The vlei and wetlands hold water year-round.
Mosquitoes and midges from the vlei are a big seasonal issue. Ants and mice in new homes are common. Flies and fleas round out the usual calls.
A note from the field
The worst mistake is sealing the hole while the squirrels are still inside. They will chew a new way out, often through the ceiling.
Because we do not use poison for squirrels, there is no risk to children, pets or owls from the treatment.
Tell-tale signs
- Scratching and running in the ceiling in the early morning and late afternoon, rather than at night.
- Chewed fascia boards, barge boards or roof edges with fresh wood exposed.
- 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.
- Shredded insulation, leaves and twigs found in the roof space.
- Chewed electrical cables or damaged ceiling boards.
What happens when we come out
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
- 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.
- 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.
- Check fascia boards and roof edges each year for chewed spots and repair them quickly.
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 Pelican Park
Why are mosquitoes so bad in Pelican Park?
Because Zeekoevlei and the wetlands nearby provide year-round breeding water. Screening windows and clearing standing water around your home makes a real difference.
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.
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 new homes in Pelican Park get mice?
Yes, mice come in from open ground through small gaps around doors and pipes. Sealing those gaps and keeping food stored well keeps them out.
Do you come out to Pelican Park for squirrel control?
Yes. Pelican Park is part of our regular Cape Flats route, along with Strandfontein, Lotus River, Grassy Park, Lavender Hill. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp 074 697 2254