If you've got rats in Port Elizabeth, killing the ones you can see is only half the job. Rats that are inside your roof or under your floor got there through a gap, and the next ones will use the same gap unless it's closed. So every rat job we do has three parts: find the way in, deal with the rats already there, and seal the route.
Two kinds of rat, two kinds of problem
Nearly every rat call in the Bay comes down to one of two species, and they behave very differently.
- Roof rats (black rats) are climbers. They run along fences, power lines and tree branches and get into the roof through gaps at the eaves or under loose tiles. If you hear running and scratching above the ceiling at night, it's almost always a roof rat.
- Norway rats (brown rats) are bigger, heavier and live low down. They burrow under paving, garden sheds and compost heaps, and follow drains and stormwater lines. They're the ones you see near bins, in garages and around restaurants and warehouses.
Knowing which one you've got changes where we put bait stations and traps, and what needs proofing.
Why Port Elizabeth has so many rats
The Bay suits them. Winters are mild, so rats keep breeding when they'd slow down further inland. The harbour, the industrial areas around Deal Party and the old stormwater network give Norway rats plenty of food and shelter. In the leafy suburbs, big trees and creepers give roof rats an easy way onto roofs, and fruit trees, bird feeders and dog food left outside keep them fed.
Our wind plays a part too. A lot of homes have loose ridge tiles and lifted roof sheeting after a few years of hard gusts, and every lifted tile is a possible way in.
Signs you've got rats
- Scratching or running in the ceiling, mostly after dark
- Droppings about the size of a raisin or bigger, usually along walls
- Greasy rub marks along beams, pipes and skirting where they travel
- Chewed wiring, irrigation pipes or food packaging
- Burrows under paving or next to the house
- Dogs or cats staring at the ceiling or a cupboard
How we get rid of them
- Inspection. We check the roof space, eaves, garage, kitchen and garden to find droppings, runways, nests and, most importantly, the entry points.
- Treatment. We use lockable, tamper-resistant bait stations outside and traps or stations inside, placed where the rats actually travel. Lockable stations mean children, pets and birds can't get to the bait.
- Proofing. We show you every gap that needs closing: a branch over the roof, a broken air brick, a gap around a pipe or a lifted tile. Some you can fix yourself, some need a handyman.
- Follow-up. We come back to check the stations and make sure activity has stopped.
Something people get wrong
Throwing a box of supermarket poison into the ceiling. The rats eat it, crawl into a wall cavity and die where you can't reach them, and you live with the smell for weeks. Poison loose in a roof is also a risk to owls and to any pet that finds a dying rat. Bait should always be in a station, placed for a reason.
What does rat control cost?
It depends on the size of the property, how many rats there are, and how much proofing is needed. A house with a few roof rats is a much smaller job than a warehouse or restaurant with Norway rats in the drains. Businesses usually go onto a monitoring contract with scheduled visits. We'll quote once we've seen what we're dealing with.
Not sure if it's rats or mice? Have a look at our mouse control page, or read about rodent control in general. We also do rat control in Walmer, Newton Park, Kariega and the rest of the Bay.
Call us on 087 012 5550, or send us a photo of the droppings on WhatsApp and we'll tell you what you've got.
Questions we get asked
How do I know if it's rats or mice?
Look at the droppings. Rat droppings are the size of a raisin or bigger; mouse droppings are about the size of a grain of rice. Rats also make a lot more noise in the ceiling.
Is rat bait safe around my dog?
Bait in a lockable station is. Dogs and children can't open them. Loose poison isn't safe, which is why we never use it.
How long until the rats are gone?
Most homes see activity drop within one to two weeks. Bigger infestations or business premises take longer, which is why we come back to check.
Why do rats keep coming back after I've killed some?
Because the way in is still open. Until the gap is sealed, new rats will keep moving into the space the old ones left.
Do you treat businesses?
Yes. We work with restaurants, shops, warehouses and factories across Port Elizabeth, usually on a regular monitoring schedule.