Keeping pests out of Outeniqua Strand beach houses

The best way to protect a beachfront holiday home in Outeniqua Strand is a treatment before the season, rodent bait stations working while the house is closed, and a few simple habits every time you lock up. We handle the treatment and the stations. The habits are where you come in, and they make more difference than most owners expect.

What beach houses here are up against

Outeniqua Strand is a small stretch of holiday homes on the coast between Groot Brak River and Glentana. The houses sit close to the beach, many are used only part of the year, and the coastal bush and dunes around them are home to plenty of wildlife, rodents included.

The pests we see most:

• Rats and mice, moving from the bush into quiet houses, roofs and garages, especially in the cooler, wetter months.
• Ants, which trail in after rain and find any food left behind.
• Cockroaches, which settle into kitchens that are closed for months and build up quietly.
• Fish moths, which love the humid sea air and the linen cupboard.
• Flies around bins, braai areas and anywhere fish is cleaned.
• Spiders, mostly around outside lights where insects gather.

Signs worth a call

If any of these greet you when you arrive, it's time to get us out:

• Droppings on counters, in drawers or along the back of cupboards
• Nesting material, shredded paper or chewed packaging
• Scratching in the ceiling at night
• Cockroaches in the kitchen when you switch on the light
• Small holes in linen, towels or books
• A trail of ants from the garden door to the pantry

A close-up and open-up checklist

This is the part most worth printing out and sticking inside a cupboard door.

When you lock up

1. Take every scrap of food home, including pet food, sugar, coffee and open snacks.
2. Empty and clean the bins, inside and out. Don't leave a bag of rubbish in the garage.
3. Wipe under the toaster, kettle and microwave.
4. Fill every drain trap with water, and add a dash of cooking oil on top so it doesn't dry out as fast.
5. Pack bedding, towels and cushions into sealed plastic boxes, not open shelves.
6. Check the garage door closes fully at the bottom.

When you arrive

1. Have a quick look for droppings in the kitchen, the roof hatch area and the garage.
2. Run the taps and flush the drains.
3. Open up and air the house.
4. If you see signs of rodents, don't sweep the droppings dry. Call us.

How we look after a holiday property

We inspect inside and out first: roof space, eaves, garage, kitchen, drains and the edge of the garden where it meets the bush. We're finding where pests shelter, how they're getting in and what they're living on.

For insects we apply odourless, non-staining residual sprays as a barrier inside and around the outside, plus gel baits for cockroaches and ant baits that the workers carry back to the nest. For rodents we use lockable bait stations, which keep working while the house is empty and are tamper-resistant around pets and children when you're back. We'll also point out where proofing is needed: a corroded vent cover, a gap at the roof line, a branch touching the gutter.

For a normal treatment there's no need to unpack cupboards or move out, and treated areas are safe for children and pets once dry.

The mistake we see most

Leaving a bag of dog food, bird seed or charcoal in the garage "because it's sealed." A paper or plastic bag is not sealed to a rat. It's a meal with a wrapper. Store anything edible in a hard, lidded container, or take it home.

How much will it cost?

The price depends on the size of the house and garden, what we're treating, how established the problem is, how much proofing is needed and whether you want stations checked before each season. A simple insect treatment on a small cottage is a quick job. A large house with rodents in the roof and gaps to close will take more, with a follow-up visit. We quote free.

If you live in the house full-time and you've seen one mouse, a couple of snap traps might be enough. In a house that stands empty, it's usually worth having stations in place.

We're SAPCA registered, our treatments carry a 3-month guarantee and we've worked in the Garden Route for more than 25 years. For rats and mice specifically, see rodent control in Outeniqua Strand. Neighbours in town can see our page on pest control in Groot Brak River.

Give us a call on 044 012 5011 and tell us about the house. We'll work out what it needs.