Rodent control for Fraai Uitsig families, with children and pets in mind

Can you get rid of rats and mice safely in a home with small children and pets? Yes. The key is never leaving loose poison lying around. We use lockable, tamper-resistant bait stations that children and animals can't open, and traps wherever bait isn't the right fit. Combined with closing the gaps rodents use to get in, that clears the problem without putting anyone at risk.

Why family gardens draw rodents

Fraai Uitsig is a residential area in the Groot Brak River area, made up mostly of family homes with gardens. Gardens are great for kids and dogs, and they're also full of things rodents like. A compost heap, a fruit tree dropping fruit, a vegetable patch, a chicken run, birdseed spilled from a feeder or dog food left out overnight can all feed a small rodent population. Add a warm roof or a cluttered garage nearby, and they'll move in.

Autumn and winter are when most families notice it, as rodents move indoors looking for warmth and dry shelter.

How safe rodent control works

Bait stations that stay closed

Our bait stations are lockable and tamper-resistant. The bait is held inside, so it can't be carried out or picked up by a toddler or a curious dog. We place them along the routes rodents actually use, such as walls, the back of the garage and the roof space, rather than out in the open.

Traps where they make more sense

Inside the kitchen, in children's rooms or where pets spend a lot of time, traps are often the better choice. We set them where rodents run, out of reach of little hands and paws.

Tracking powder in hidden spaces

In roof voids and wall cavities that people and pets never go into, tracking powder is useful for reaching rodents on the move.

If anything changes, such as a new puppy, a toddler starting to climb or the cat moving into the garage, let us know and we'll adjust the placement.

Signs you've got rodents

• Droppings in kitchen cupboards, under the sink or in the garage
• Chewed food packets, especially cereal, bread or pet food
• The dog or cat staring at, or scratching at, one spot on a wall or cupboard
• Scratching in the ceiling at night
• Holes or burrows near the compost heap, along the boundary wall or under a shed

Step by step

1. Inspect the house and garden to find where rodents are nesting, feeding and getting in.
2. Place stations and traps with your family's routine in mind.
3. Show you the entry points and how to close them, from a gap under the kitchen door to a missing air brick or a tree branch resting on the roof.
4. Come back to check on activity, top up or remove stations and, once rodents are gone, sanitise affected areas. Droppings and urine can carry disease, so this matters in a home where children play on the floor.

A garden tip that works here

Feed pets indoors or pick up the bowl after they've eaten, and don't leave a bag of dog food or birdseed open in the garage. In family homes, pet food is very often the main thing keeping rodents coming back. Fit a lid to the compost bin, keep fallen fruit picked up, and store garden toys and pool equipment off the ground so rodents don't have somewhere sheltered to nest against the house.

A common mistake

Blaming the neighbours and doing nothing else. Rodents may well be coming from next door or the open ground nearby, but they're staying because your property gives them shelter and food. Closing the gaps and removing the food source protects your house, whatever is happening over the wall.

How much will it cost?

Cost depends on how big the property is, how established the rodents are, how many stations and visits are needed and how much proofing the house needs. A mouse or two in the kitchen is a small job, and in fairness, a couple of traps and sealing the gap under the door can sometimes solve it on your own. Rats in the roof, or rodents living under a shed and coming in every night, need a proper programme with a follow-up. We'll tell you exactly what's included before we start.

For other pests at home, see pest control in Fraai Uitsig. We also cover rodent control in Groot Brak River, and you can read more about our approach on our George rodent control page.

If you'd like to talk it through first, call 044 012 5011. We're SAPCA registered, have worked in the Garden Route for more than 25 years, and our rodent treatments come with a 3-month guarantee.