Theescombe sits on the semi-rural western edge of Port Elizabeth, where houses give way to smallholdings, stables and coastal bush heading towards Sardinia Bay. If you live here, you already know the pest problems are a step up from a suburban garden: more rodents, more spiders and scorpions, and feed rooms that attract everything.
We handle all of it, from a single house to a full smallholding with outbuildings.
What we see most in Theescombe
Rodents in feed rooms and outbuildings
Horse feed, chicken feed and dog food are a magnet for rats and mice. Once they're established in a feed room or stable, they move into the house roof as well. We set up lockable bait stations around outbuildings and the house perimeter, placed so horses, dogs and chickens can't get to them, and show you how to store feed so it stops feeding rodents.
Spiders and scorpions
Bush on the boundary, wood piles, stone walls and outbuildings give spiders and scorpions plenty of places to hide during the day. Rain spiders are big and alarming but mostly harmless; button spiders and thick-tailed scorpions need more respect. A barrier treatment around the house, plus clearing their hiding spots near doors and walls, cuts down how many come inside.
Ants
Sandy soil and big gardens mean big ant colonies. They trail into kitchens and pantries, especially after rain. Ant baits that workers carry back to the nest are what actually clear them.
Flies around animals
Stables, manure heaps and chicken runs breed flies in summer. The fix is mostly about finding and managing the breeding spots, with targeted treatment where it's needed.
How a visit works
- We walk the property with you: house, outbuildings, feed storage and the boundary.
- We work out what's causing each problem, whether that's a gap in the roof, open feed bins or a wood pile against the wall.
- We treat with products chosen for a place with animals, children and wildlife around.
- We give you a short list of changes that will stop the problem coming back.
Living with wildlife
Theescombe's bush is home to owls, mongooses and other animals that eat rodents. That's another reason we never scatter loose poison: a poisoned rat can kill the owl that catches it. Lockable stations and traps keep the treatment on the pest and away from everything else.
What does it cost?
A house-only treatment is priced on the size of the home and what we're treating. A smallholding with stables and feed rooms takes longer and usually works best as a regular service, especially for rodents. We'll quote after we've seen the property.
Close by, we also cover Sardinia Bay and Walmer. For specific pests, see rat control, scorpion control and spider control in Port Elizabeth.
Call 087 012 5550, or WhatsApp us a photo of what you're finding.
Questions we get asked
Is pest control safe around horses and chickens?
Yes, when it's done properly. Bait goes in lockable stations placed out of reach, and we choose products and placements with your animals in mind.
Can you stop rats getting into the feed room?
We can remove the ones there and set up stations, but the real fix is storage. Feed in sealed metal bins and a feed room with no gaps under the door makes the biggest difference.
Are the scorpions in Theescombe dangerous?
Most are not, but thick-tailed scorpions with small pincers can give a painful, more serious sting. If you're finding them indoors, it's worth treating.
Do you treat outbuildings and stables?
Yes. We treat the house, garages, stables, feed rooms and other outbuildings.
How often should a smallholding be treated?
For rodents, regular checks work best, often monthly or quarterly. Insects are usually treated seasonally or when there's a problem.