Yes, you read that correctly this is an article about how to keep monkeys out of your house! And while this might seem like a very specific problem, for people who live in areas with large monkey or baboon populations (like Kwazulu Natal or the Cape Peninsula) it can be a daily struggle keeping these pesky primates out of your kitchen or pantry. Apes and monkeys are highly skilled burglars, not only are they able to smell food sources from far away, but they are also adept at finding ways into your home. They are able to open windows and doors, squeeze through burglar bars and climb multiple stories. So if your house is under siege from these furry home invaders, what can you do? Let’s start by looking at the causes of the monkey problem.
Monkeys & Baboons – A Human Problem
Let us begin by stating that the problem of monkeys and baboons migrating into urban or populated areas in search of food is largely down to habitat destruction. This ongoing conflict between humans and primates leads to populations of baboons and monkeys being forced into small territories that don’t have the space or resources to support their numbers.
This leads to these animals being forced to search for food in new areas.
Another major problem is the “socialisation” of these animals, whether intentional (in the case of feeding programs) or unintentional (people leaving food out). Either way these animals are learning that human populations are great sources of food and actively seeking out these easy meals.
In KZN the monkey problem has gotten so out of hand that monkeys invaded the wards of Durban’s RH Khan Hospital, freely roaming amongst patient beds.
This increasing contact with humans has led to more and more conflict with the news being full of stories of baboons being shot or monkeys poisoned in hotspots around South Africa. According to South African Law, baboons can legally be killed if they are involved in activities such as raids, or entering a house or car to steal food. This is an inhumane and short-sighted response that doesn’t address the fundamental issues of habitat destruction and human expansion into the animal’s territories.
The above means that the problem of monkeys and baboons entering urban areas isn’t going away anytime soon, so the next question becomes how can you protect your home, without doing harm to the animals?
MiniLatch and LockLatch – How To Keep Monkeys Out Of Your House
As we mentioned earlier, the problem with primates is that solutions that usually keep unwanted visitors out of your house often don’t work on baboons and monkeys. They are able to squeeze through small spaces; open unlocked windows and doors; and easily access second story windows that may have been left open. When they do get in they can wreak all kinds of havoc in their search for food, damaging property and leaving pantries empty, and we’re not even speaking about the inherent dangers of cornering a wild baboon in your home.
The result is that one of the only ways to keep monkeys out of your home safely is to lock and close every window and door. But this is hardly ideal. Open windows allow for airflow and ventilation that is so important for your health and wellbeing in the home.
So what if there was a way to keep your windows and doors both locked and ajar? That’s where the MiniLatch and LockLatch comes in. This lockable window and door latch is made from C304 stainless steel, in Howick, KZN. It’s quick and easy to install yourself and comes with a lifetime guarantee.
MiniLatch and LockLatch are designed to fit every type of window (or door), whichever way it opens and whatever it is made of. It allows the window to be left slightly open for fresh air whilst keeping it locked to prevent primates entering the premises. The only difference between MiniLatch and LockLatch is the size of the gap. MiniLatch has an adjustable opening between 4.5cm and 8cm and LockLatch has an adjustable gap between 9 and 17cm. So either can be used according to the type and size of the opening required and the primate that is causing problems.
Both MiniLatch and LockLatch are designed for easy home installation and come with the screws and rivets to attach it to wood, steel, uPVC and aluminium frames. The DIY installation shouldn’t take longer than 15 minutes and they can be purchased online here.
So that’s how to keep monkeys out of your house! Have you had an encounter with these types of animals in your area and have you found any novel solutions to deal with them? Tell us by email and we could feature your story in a future article.
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