Rats and mice come indoors in winter for the same reasons we do: it's warm, it's dry, and the kitchen is close by. Over summer they live comfortably in gardens, hedges, compost heaps and outbuildings. As nights cool and rain soaks their burrows, and as the garden produces less food, a ceiling or garage becomes a much better place to be. The good news is that you can see it coming and prepare.
What actually changes when it gets colder
Shelter becomes the priority
A burrow under the paving is fine in dry weather, but when it floods, Norway rats move to drier ground, which is often under a slab, inside a garage or beneath a wooden floor. Roof rats and mice head upwards into ceiling insulation, which holds heat beautifully. The space around a geyser in the roof is a favourite.
Outside food runs short
Seeds, insects and fruit are less plentiful in the cooler months. Your home, by comparison, offers a steady supply: pet food, bird seed, a pantry, a bin by the back door. Rodents follow the food.
Breeding doesn't stop
Our coastal winters are mild, without the hard frosts of the interior, so rodents in the Eastern Cape keep breeding through the cooler months when they would slow down elsewhere. A few mice that slip in during autumn can become many by spring if nobody notices.
Wind and storms open the gaps
Port Elizabeth isn't called the Windy City for nothing. Heavy gusts and winter storms lift ridge tiles, loosen roof sheeting and peel back fascia boards. Each new gap is an invitation, and rodents are quick to find them.
Early warning signs
The earlier you catch it, the smaller the job. Watch and listen for:
- Light scratching or running in the ceiling in the first hours after dark
- Droppings in the garage, behind the fridge or in the geyser cupboard
- Chewed corners on boxes of stored camping gear or Christmas decorations
- Pets suddenly interested in a cupboard, a wall or the ceiling
- A gnawed hole at the bottom of a door or in an irrigation pipe
- Shredded insulation or paper in the roof space
Rice-sized droppings point to mice; raisin-sized ones mean rats. Our guides to rat behaviour and treatment and how mice nest and feed go into the differences in more detail.
An autumn checklist
An hour spent on a walk-around before the cold weather arrives is the best rodent control there is.
- Look up at the roof. After any strong wind, check for lifted or cracked tiles, loose sheeting and gaps at the eaves. Use binoculars from the ground if you can't get up safely.
- Cut back branches and creepers that touch the roof or gutters. Roof rats use them as bridges.
- Check where services enter the house. Gaps around geyser pipes, aircon lines, gas pipes and cables should be sealed with mesh, steel wool and filler.
- Fit or replace door seals and brush strips on garage doors. Mice slip under surprisingly small gaps.
- Replace broken air bricks and vent covers with intact ones.
- Move the food. Pet food and bird seed into sealed bins, bowls in at night, fallen fruit picked up, compost in a closed container.
- Clear clutter in garages and storerooms so you can spot droppings and nests early.
What not to do when you hear them
The most common reaction is to buy poison and throw it into the ceiling. It feels like action, but it causes problems. Rodents eat it and die in wall cavities where they can't be reached, which means weeks of smell and sometimes flies. Pellets carried off by rodents can end up where dogs find them. And a poisoned rat staggering across the lawn is an easy meal for an owl or a pet. If you're using bait at all, it belongs in a lockable station, placed with a reason.
The other mistake is waiting for spring. Rodents that settle in during winter are breeding, chewing and soiling insulation the whole time.
When to call in help
If you've had activity for more than a week or two, if you're finding droppings in more than one area, or if you're a business with food or stock on site, a professional treatment will be quicker and cleaner. We inspect first to find how they are getting in, set traps and lockable bait stations on their actual runways, give you a list of gaps to close and come back to make sure the job is finished. You can read more on our rodent control page for Port Elizabeth.
Leafy suburbs with big old trees see a lot of roof rats once the weather turns. If that's you, our page on rat problems in Walmer's older homes may sound familiar. For mice in kitchens and storerooms anywhere in the metro, see our mouse treatments across the Bay.
What does it cost?
That depends on the size of the property, whether it's rats, mice or both, how long they've been there and how much proofing is needed. A quick autumn check and a handful of stations costs far less than clearing an established winter infestation, which is the best argument for acting early.
Hearing something in the roof as the nights get colder? Call Pest Arrest on 087 012 5550, or WhatsApp us a photo of what you've found and we'll tell you what you're dealing with.
Questions we get asked
Why do I only hear rats in the ceiling in winter?
Because that's when they move in. In warmer months many live outside in gardens and outbuildings, then move into warm roof spaces as nights cool and burrows get wet.
Do rodents hibernate?
No. Rats and mice stay active all year. In a mild coastal climate they keep feeding and breeding through winter, often indoors.
When should I start rodent-proofing?
In autumn, before the first cold, wet spell. Checking the roof after strong wind and sealing gaps early stops rodents from settling in.
Will the rats leave on their own in spring?
Usually not. Once they've found a warm roof with food nearby, there's little reason to leave, and they'll have bred over winter.
Is it safe to put rat poison in the roof?
Loose poison isn't a good idea. Rodents can die in wall cavities and cause a bad smell, and pellets can be carried to places pets reach. Use lockable stations or traps.
Can I hear the difference between rats and mice?
Often, yes. Rats make heavier thumping and running sounds; mice sound lighter and quicker, like soft scratching. Droppings will confirm it.