Zonnebloem covers much of what was District Six, between the city centre and Woodstock, with the CPUT campus at its centre. Today it is a mix of campus buildings, newer housing and open land, and that combination gives pests plenty of room.
The local picture in Zonnebloem
Rats nest in the open land and old drains and move into buildings, especially kitchens and refuse areas. Bait stations around buildings help keep numbers down.
The CPUT campus, student residences, schools, churches and mosques sit alongside newer housing developments and older homes. Open land left after the forced removals still surrounds parts of the area. Student residences and shared housing see a quick turnover of occupants, which can bring in bed bugs and cockroaches.
Rats from the open land and old drains are the main concern. German cockroaches and bed bugs show up in residences and shared housing. Pigeons roost on campus and institutional buildings.
Tell-tale signs
- Chewed fascia boards, barge boards or roof edges with fresh wood exposed.
- 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.
- Squirrels seen jumping from a tree onto the roof and disappearing under the tiles.
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.
Worth knowing
Many people think squirrels are harmless, but they chew through cables and can cause real damage in a roof.
When a technician inspects for squirrels, the first thing he looks at is the trees around the house, because the branches show where the squirrels are jumping onto the roof.
How we handle squirrel control in Zonnebloem
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.
- Fit squirrel guards on bird feeders, or move them away from the house.
- Trim tree branches so they are at least two metres away from the roof.
- Use metal mesh, not plastic, over roof vents and gaps.
- Do not feed squirrels in the garden, however cute they are.
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 Zonnebloem
Do you come out to Zonnebloem for squirrel control?
Yes. Zonnebloem is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Walmer Estate, University Estate, Woodstock, Vredehoek. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Why are there so many rats around the open land in Zonnebloem?
Open land with long grass, dumped waste and old drains gives rats food and shelter. Buildings nearby need sealed entry points and perimeter bait stations to keep them out.
Can you treat a whole student residence in Zonnebloem for bed bugs?
Yes. We inspect, treat affected rooms and neighbouring ones, and give a post-treatment report, which helps residence managers keep track.
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.
Will you hurt the squirrels?
No. We use one-way exclusion devices and live traps, not poison.
Can squirrels damage my roof?
Yes. They chew fascia boards, roof edges and cables, and they nest in insulation.
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