Valhalla Park sits on the Cape Flats near Bishop Lavis and Bonteheuwel, not far from the airport. It is a close-knit, densely built community, and most of our work here is about rodents, cockroaches and fleas moving between homes that share walls and yards.
Valhalla Park: what drives rodents here
Rats live along canals, open land and wherever refuse piles up, then move into homes and backyard rooms. Sealing gaps under doors and around pipes makes a real difference.
Council-built semi-detached and row houses make up most of the area, with many backyard structures added over the years. Shared walls and close spacing mean pests spread easily from one home to the next. Informal structures and outbuildings often lack sealed floors, which gives rodents easy access.
The ground is flat Cape Flats sand, and winter rain can pool when stormwater drains are blocked. The South-Easter blows dust and litter across open spaces. Open land and canals nearby give rats breeding areas close to homes.
Rats are the biggest issue, especially near open spaces and where waste collection is delayed. German cockroaches and fleas are also very common. Flies and mosquitoes become a problem in summer near standing water and bins.
A note from the field
Many people think squirrels are harmless, but they chew through cables and can cause real damage in a roof.
Tell-tale signs
- Chewed fascia boards, barge boards or roof edges with fresh wood exposed.
- Dug-up pot plants and bulbs, and nuts buried in garden beds.
- Chewed electrical cables or damaged ceiling boards.
- 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.
How we handle squirrel control in Valhalla Park
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.
Prevention that actually works
- Fit squirrel guards on bird feeders, or move them away from the house.
- Check fascia boards and roof edges each year for chewed spots and repair them quickly.
- 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.
- Trim tree branches so they are at least two metres away from the roof.
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.
You can trim the trees and fix obvious gaps yourself, but sealing a roof with squirrels still inside is a mistake that leads to trapped animals and more damage. Getting them out humanely and proofing the whole roof line properly is a job worth getting professional help for.
Frequently asked questions
Can squirrels damage my roof?
Yes. They chew fascia boards, roof edges and cables, and they nest in insulation.
Do you come out to Valhalla Park for squirrel control?
Yes. Valhalla Park is part of our regular Cape Flats route, along with Bishop Lavis, Bonteheuwel, Elsies River, Kalksteenfontein. 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.
Will you hurt the squirrels?
No. We use one-way exclusion devices and live traps, not poison.
Can you treat several houses together in Valhalla Park?
Yes, and it often works better that way. When neighbours share walls, treating a row of homes at the same time stops rats and cockroaches simply moving next door.
How do I get rid of fleas at home in Valhalla Park?
Treat your pets with a vet-approved flea product, wash bedding hot and vacuum floors, then we treat the house and yard. Doing all of it together is what breaks the flea cycle.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp 074 697 2254