Over the Outeniquas from George, Uniondale has proper Karoo weather: frost on winter mornings and blazing summer afternoons. The pests change with the seasons, and so does our advice.
In Uniondale, the pests change with the season. In winter, rats and mice move out of the veld and the sheds into roofs and kitchens. In summer, it's scorpions, spiders, flies and harvester termites. On the sheep and fruit farms around the town, it's rodents in feed stores, weevils in stored grain and flies around animals. We plan Uniondale visits from George ahead of time and treat houses, outbuildings and farm stores on the same trip. Treatments in the house are odourless and, once dry, safe for children and pets. They're backed by our 3-month guarantee.
A Karoo town at the top of the Langkloof
Uniondale lies north of the Outeniqua and Kammanassie mountains, at the western head of the Langkloof, on the road from George through the mountains towards Willowmore. It's a small Karoo town of old houses, churches and a historic watermill, surrounded by sheep farms, with fruit farms stretching east along the Langkloof. Winters bring hard frost and sometimes snow on the peaks. Summers are hot and dry.
Winter: rodents moving in
When the cold sets in, rats and mice leave the veld, the hedges and the sheds and move into warm roof spaces, ceilings and kitchens. You hear them first, scratching above the ceiling at night, then find droppings in the pantry and chewed packets. Old houses with gaps under doors, between roof sheets and around pipes let them in easily. Bait goes into locked stations in the roof and along their paths, with traps where bait isn't right, and we'll show you which gaps to close. Deal with them in autumn, before they're settled; rodent control and rats in the roof in autumn explain why timing matters.
Summer: scorpions, spiders and flies
On hot summer nights, scorpions come out from under stones, woodpiles and rubble, and some wander indoors. Watch for thick-tailed scorpions: heavy tail, thin pincers. Spiders settle in sheds and under outdoor furniture. Flies breed around kraals, bins and compost. Treating the outside of the house and sheds, shifting rubble off the walls, and staying on top of bins and manure all help. Read more in scorpions, our Klein Karoo scorpion safety guide and fly control.
Sheep farms and feed stores
Feed stores, shearing sheds and barns give rodents food and shelter all year, and stored grain and feed attract weevils and beetles. Rodent bait stations around stores and sheds, placed where sheep, working dogs and children can't reach them, keep rats down. Stored product that's infested can be fumigated under gas-tight sheets, with the store closed until it's cleared. See farm pest control.
Harvester termites
In the dry Karoo veld and in town lawns, harvester termites cut grass into short pieces and carry it underground, leaving bare patches dotted with small soil heaps. In a dry year, they compete directly with sheep for grazing. Around the homestead and in lawns, treating their active foraging holes brings them under control. See harvester termites.
Old houses and timber
Historic houses with old timber floors, ceilings and roof beams can harbour wood borer. Little heaps of fresh, light-coloured powder beneath tiny round holes mean the beetles are still active. If you're buying or selling, a beetle inspection is part of the process. See wood borer beetles.
Guest houses and overnight stops
Uniondale is a stopover for travellers heading between the coast and the Karoo, and its guest houses see a lot of different luggage. That's how bed bugs travel. If a guest reports itchy bites in a row, check the mattress seams for small dark spots and the bugs themselves, stop using the room, and ring us. Bed bugs are cleared with two visits roughly a fortnight apart. Guest house kitchens also need cockroaches and mice kept under control, and a treatment before each busy season does that. See bed bug treatment.
Getting to Uniondale
Uniondale is a drive over the mountains from George, so we book visits in advance and do as much as possible in one trip. When neighbours or nearby farms want treatment too, we put them on the same day and everyone saves on travel.
Woodstoves and firewood
Winter in Uniondale means fires, and firewood stacked against the house or in the kitchen brings spiders, scorpions, wood borer and sometimes mice in with it. Stack firewood away from the house walls, off the ground, and bring in only what you'll burn that day. Check old logs for small round holes and fresh dust before they come inside.
What it costs
We quote on the house and outbuildings, whether it's a farm, the pests in question, any stored product, and the distance. Mice in a town house are a small job. A farm programme with feed stores and sheds is bigger. You'll have a quote once we know what's involved.
We also work in George, Oudtshoorn and De Rust. Phone 044 012 5011, or book online and let us know if there's a farm involved.
Frequently asked questions
Do you come out to Uniondale?
Yes, booked in advance, so we can cover the house, the sheds and anything else on one trip.
Why do mice come into the house every winter?
When it turns cold, rodents leave the veld and sheds for warm roofs and kitchens. Dealing with them in autumn, before they settle in, works best.
Is rodent bait safe around sheep and working dogs?
Bait stays inside tamper-resistant stations, positioned so sheep, dogs and children can't reach it.
What are the bare patches with small soil heaps in the veld?
Probably harvester termites, which cut grass and carry it underground. Around the homestead and in lawns, they can be treated while they're foraging.
Can firewood bring pests into the house?
Yes. Spiders, scorpions and wood borer can come in with it. Stack firewood off the ground away from the house and bring in only what you'll burn that night.