Steenberg covers two quite different places: the busy residential area near Retreat and Lavender Hill, and the wine estate and golf course on the mountain side. We work across both, and the pest problems differ a lot between them.
The local picture in Steenberg
Brown rats burrow in sandy ground and around refuse areas near the railway, and mice come into estate homes from the vineyards and mountain.
Near the railway and Steenberg station, homes are mainly older council houses, semis and flats, often with backyard rooms. Closer to the mountain, the estate side has newer, larger homes in security developments. Dense housing makes it easy for rodents and cockroaches to spread, while large estate homes deal more with mountain-edge pests. Shops and taxi ranks along the main roads add food sources.
The Steenberg mountain rises behind the area as part of Table Mountain National Park, with vineyards on its lower slopes. Lower down, the sandy Cape Flats ground and wetlands toward Zeekoevlei and Princess Vlei bring a high water table. Winters are wet, summers hot and windy.
What gives them away
- Scratching and running in the ceiling in the early morning and late afternoon, rather than at night.
- Chewed electrical cables or damaged ceiling boards.
- Dug-up pot plants and bulbs, and nuts buried in garden beds.
- Shredded insulation, leaves and twigs found in the roof space.
Something most people miss
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 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.
Prevention that actually works
- Trim tree branches so they are at least two metres away from the roof.
- Do not feed squirrels in the garden, however cute they are.
- Check fascia boards and roof edges each year for chewed spots and repair them quickly.
- 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.
How much will it cost?
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 you come out to Steenberg for squirrel control?
Yes. Steenberg is part of our regular Southern Suburbs route, along with Retreat, Lavender Hill, Tokai, Kirstenhof. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
What if there are babies in the roof?
We check for young before sealing, because sealing them in causes suffering, smells and more damage.
Why do I find scorpions in my Steenberg estate home?
Homes near the mountain border fynbos and rocky ground where scorpions live. Sealing gaps under doors and clearing rock piles near the house helps.
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 service both sides of Steenberg?
Yes, we cover the residential area near Retreat and the estates on the mountain side. Treatments are tailored to each type of home.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp 074 697 2254