If you've got a pest problem in George that can't wait for office hours, phone 044 012 5011. We take 24-hour call-outs, and the person you speak to will ask a few questions, tell you honestly whether it needs someone tonight, and talk you through what to do until we get there. We won't promise you a time we can't keep, but we'll keep you informed.
What counts as urgent?
Not every pest is an emergency, and we'd rather tell you that than send someone out for something that'll be fine in the morning. These are the situations where a call-out makes sense:
- A rat or mouse in the living area, a bedroom or a baby's room, especially if you have small children or someone with a weak immune system in the house.
- A food business with a cockroach or rodent problem that has to open in the morning. A restaurant, takeaway or shop can't trade with rodents running across the floor.
- A heavy ant invasion in a commercial kitchen, a food store or a warehouse where stock is being spoiled.
- An infestation found in stored goods, like weevils or moths in a warehouse, ahead of a delivery or dispatch.
- Signs of rodents chewing wiring, such as flickering lights or chewed cables in the roof. If you smell burning or see sparks, call an electrician or the fire service first. Pest control comes after it's safe.
A few ants on the counter, a single cockroach in the bathroom or a spider web in the corner are not emergencies. Call us during the day and we'll book a normal treatment.
What to do while you wait
For rats and mice
Close the door of the room it's in and put a rolled towel along the bottom. Keep children and pets out. Cover or put away any food that's been left out. Don't try to corner or catch a rat with your hands; they bite when trapped. If you've found droppings, don't sweep or vacuum them, because that lifts contaminated dust into the air.
For cockroaches and ants
Resist emptying a can of spray over everything. Supermarket aerosols scatter cockroaches into walls and other rooms, and they leave residue on the very surfaces where we'd put bait, which makes our treatment less effective. Put food away in sealed containers, wipe up spills and leave the rest for us.
For a business
Stop food preparation in the affected area, set aside any stock that might be contaminated, and note where and when you saw the pests. If staff have seen them, ask them what they saw. That information helps us go straight to the source.
What happens when we arrive
- We confirm what it is. A noise in the ceiling could be rats, mice or something else entirely. Droppings, tracks and damage tell us which.
- We find where it's coming from. Even at night, we look for the entry point, the nest and the food source, because that decides the treatment.
- We deal with the immediate problem. For rodents that usually means lockable bait stations or traps in the right places. For cockroaches, gel bait in the hiding spots and residual spray where it's needed. For ants, baits that the workers carry back to the nest.
- We tell you what comes next. Some problems are solved in one visit. Others, especially rodents, need a follow-up in daylight to check stations, finish proofing or sanitise affected areas.
For a normal insect or rodent treatment you won't need to leave the house, and treated surfaces are safe for children and pets once dry. If what we find needs gas fumigation, that's a planned job: the space has to be sealed and vacated until it's been cleared, so it won't happen in the middle of the night.
What people get wrong in a panic
The most common mistake is putting out loose rat poison in the roof or behind the stove the moment a rat is seen. The rat may take days to die, often somewhere you can't reach, and loose poison is a real danger to dogs and toddlers. If you can hold off until we arrive, do.
How much does an after-hours call-out cost?
It depends on what we're treating, the size of the property and what needs to happen on the night versus a follow-up visit. We'll tell you the cost on the phone before anyone drives out, so there are no surprises. If it can safely wait until morning, we'll say so, and that'll usually save you money.
Our office is in Denneoord, George, and we've worked across the Garden Route for more than 25 years. We're SAPCA registered, and our treatments come with a 3-month guarantee. For non-urgent work, see our pages on pest control in George and rodent control in George.
If something's happening right now, call 044 012 5011. Tell us what you're seeing and we'll take it from there.
Questions we get asked
Will someone answer if I call at 2am?
Yes. Our 24-hour line is there for urgent call-outs at any hour. If it can safely wait until morning, we'll tell you.
How quickly can you get to me?
It depends on where you are in George, what's already booked and the time of night. We'll give you an honest idea when you call rather than a promise we might not keep.
Is a snake an emergency you can help with?
No. Snakes aren't pest control work. Keep your distance, keep children and pets away and contact a qualified snake handler.
Do you do after-hours call-outs for businesses?
Yes. Restaurants, shops, offices and warehouses can call us any time, and we can also set up regular service contracts to prevent emergencies in the first place.
Can I just put down poison tonight and call you tomorrow?
We'd rather you didn't use loose poison. Close the room off, put food away and call us. Loose poison often leads to rodents dying in walls and puts pets and children at risk.
Do you cover areas outside George after hours?
Call and ask. We cover the Garden Route, and we'll tell you honestly what's possible for your area on the night.