Rosebank is small but packed: student residences, Victorian cottages, the Baxter Theatre and a strip of shops and eateries along Main Road. Turnover of tenants is high, and that shapes almost every pest problem we see here.
Rodents around Rosebank
Rats move up from the Liesbeek green belt into gardens and drains, and squirrels get into older roofs. Closing gaps around pipes and under the eaves helps a lot.
Narrow Victorian and Edwardian houses, many divided into rooms, sit alongside purpose-built student blocks and older flats. Shared walls, old timber floors and shared kitchens make it easy for cockroaches and bed bugs to spread. Converted homes often have old roof spaces with plenty of gaps. Restaurants and takeaways on Main Road need regular commercial service.
What gives them away
- Chewed fascia boards, barge boards or roof edges with fresh wood exposed.
- Shredded insulation, leaves and twigs found in the roof space.
- 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.
From the technician
Because we do not use poison for squirrels, there is no risk to children, pets or owls from the treatment.
The worst mistake is sealing the hole while the squirrels are still inside. They will chew a new way out, often through the ceiling.
How we handle squirrel control in Rosebank
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
- 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.
- Fit squirrel guards on bird feeders, or move them away from the house.
- Pick up acorns and fallen fruit regularly if you have big trees close to the house.
- Trim tree branches so they are at least two metres away from the roof.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Will you hurt the squirrels?
No. We use one-way exclusion devices and live traps, not poison.
Do the rats in Rosebank come from the Liesbeek River?
Many do. The river's green belt gives them cover and water, and they move into nearby gardens and drains, especially in winter.
What if there are babies in the roof?
We check for young before sealing, because sealing them in causes suffering, smells and more damage.
How do you treat bed bugs in a Rosebank digs with shared rooms?
All connected rooms need to be treated at the same time, otherwise bed bugs just move next door. We'll give you a prep list beforehand and a report afterwards.
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 you come out to Rosebank for squirrel control?
Yes. Rosebank is part of our regular Southern Suburbs route, along with Mowbray, Rondebosch, Observatory. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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