Three Anchor Bay is a tiny pocket of the Atlantic Seaboard between Green Point and Sea Point, with the rocky bay and promenade at its feet. It is mostly apartments, so pest problems tend to be shared ones.
The local picture in Three Anchor Bay
Rats use the promenade, storm drains and Signal Hill slopes, then move into basement parking and refuse rooms. Mice are less common in the high-rise flats but do turn up in ground-floor units.
Older apartment blocks from the mid-twentieth century stand next to modern glass buildings and a handful of converted homes. Shared ducts, garbage chutes and basement parking make it easy for cockroaches and rats to move between floors. Ground-floor units and those near the refuse rooms usually see trouble first.
The ocean is right there, so salt air and sea spray corrode vent covers and mesh quickly. Signal Hill rises behind the suburb, and its slopes give rodents a natural starting point. Winter cold fronts come straight off the Atlantic, pushing pests into the warmth of buildings.
German cockroaches in the older blocks are the most common issue. Rats from the promenade, Signal Hill and restaurants nearby are next. Pigeons and gulls are a real nuisance on balconies and roofs.
Something most people miss
Grey squirrels were brought to Cape Town in the late 1800s and have spread across the Southern Suburbs since then.
Signs to look for
- 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.
- Chewed fascia boards, barge boards or roof edges with fresh wood exposed.
- 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.
How we handle squirrel control in Three Anchor Bay
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.
Keeping them out afterwards
- 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.
- 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.
- Use metal mesh, not plastic, over roof vents and gaps.
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 Three Anchor Bay
Can you put up pigeon netting on my sea-facing balcony?
Yes, balcony netting is one of our most requested bird proofing jobs on the Atlantic Seaboard. Check with your body corporate first, as some buildings have rules about what can be installed.
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.
Can squirrels damage my roof?
Yes. They chew fascia boards, roof edges and cables, and they nest in insulation.
Why do cockroaches keep coming back to my Three Anchor Bay flat?
In older blocks, German cockroaches move between units through shared ducts and pipes. Treating only your flat helps, but a whole-building programme through the body corporate gives lasting results.
Do you come out to Three Anchor Bay for squirrel control?
Yes. Three Anchor Bay is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Sea Point, Green Point, Mouille Point, Fresnaye. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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