Animal Removal from Chimney

Your chimney is more than just a part of your home’s heating system—it can also attract unwanted wildlife. Its warmth and security make it an appealing nesting spot for animals like raccoons, squirrels, bats, and birds, especially in the cooler months. Their presence poses major health and safety risks. If you’re dealing with this issue, professional animal removal from chimney services can help prevent damage and keep your home safe.

Typical Signs of Animals in a Chimney

If you suspect an animal has invaded your chimney, there’s a good chance you’ll hear or smell it before you see it. Common signs of an invasion include:

Noises in Chimney

Strange sounds are one of the most common indicators of an uninvited critter in your chimney. However, pinpointing the origin of the sound and what kind of animal is making it can be tricky. You might hear:

• Scratching sounds: Scratching and scraping sounds are common signs of rodents, such as raccoons or squirrels because they have sharp claws that can dig into the chimney’s walls. If you hear scratching noises in the chimney at night, there’s a good chance you have a nocturnal critter bumping around in there.
• Squeaking, whining, and crying: Baby animals, including squirrels and raccoons, will often make lots of noise. They might squeak, whine, or cry, especially when separated from their mothers.
• Flapping or fluttering: This sound is of a winged creature, like a bird or a bat. Chimney swifts, for example, can make lots of racket flapping about, whereas bats in your chimney often make a quieter fluttering noise.
• Thumping or bumping: Squirrels, raccoons, and larger animals may thump and bump as they move about your chimney, especially if they’re looking for an exit.
• Growling or hissing: Aggressive or frightened animals, such as raccoons or larger mammals, may make a growling or hissing sound when they feel threatened. For example, if you have a raccoon stuck in your chimney, you might hear growling or hissing.

Other Signs of Animals in Chimney

In addition to the unexplainable noises, you may also notice these signs, each of which can indicate the presence of wildlife in your chimney:

• Bad odors: Feces, urine, and other decaying animal matter can build up in your chimney, leading to foul smells wafting from that area. If left unaddressed, these odors may permeate your home and create a downright unbearable living environment.
• Feces and urine build-up: In addition to the odor from feces and urine, you may notice an accumulation of droppings and urine in your chimney. These can quickly accumulate, leading to disgusting odors and health risks.
• Dead animal decomposing: If an animal gets trapped or dies in your chimney, the resulting decay will lead to an awful stench. If you suspect this is the case, enlist professional help with dead animal removal from the chimney.

Most Common Animals in Chimneys

Your chimney might become an unwitting host to multiple types of animals, each with a set of reasons why they chose that particular spot. These critters include:

• Raccoons: Raccoons in chimneys are common, especially during the breeding season. They’re incredibly intelligent and adaptable, often choosing chimneys to give birth and raise their young. They’re most likely to enter during the spring and fall when warmth and shelter are their top priorities.
• Squirrels: Squirrels choose chimneys when hunting for a safe, quiet place to nest. They’re often drawn to these areas in the fall and winter when food options become scarce, and they need a warm, enclosed space to hunker down.
• Birds: Birds like chimney swifts and pigeons are frequent flyers in chimneys. They, too, appreciate the warmth and protection chimneys provide, often choosing them as nesting places during the spring and summer.
• Bats: Bats appreciate chimneys for their high, enclosed spaces, which are ideal for roosting. They often invade during the late spring or early summer when in search of a place to give birth and settle in for a spell.

Problems Caused by Animals in the Chimney

While having animals in your chimney might not seem like a big deal at first, they can open the door to serious issues, including:

• Nuisances: The presence of critters in your chimney can result in loud noises, unpleasant odors, and general disturbances in your home, which ultimately affect your comfort.
• Blockages: Animal nests can block airflow through your chimney, which can impede proper ventilation through the fireplace.
• Fire hazards: When animals build nests in your chimney, often using highly flammable materials to do so, they create a fire risk. The nests can obstruct airflow and increase the likelihood of a chimney fire.
• Health risks: Animal droppings are a cesspool of disease, often spreading diseases and pests that pose serious health risks to humans. For example, bird guano can spread histoplasmosis or parasites like fleas or ticks.
• Structural damage: The weight of nests and other debris, paired with the animal’s weight, can cause structural damage to your chimney. Their constant movement may cause cracks or wear in the chimney lining.

How Not to Get an Animal Out of the Chimney

If you discover there is an animal trapped in your chimney, you must tread carefully. Avoid using these common but unhelpful techniques, such as:

• Lighting a fire: Never attempt to smoke out an animal with a fireplace fire. The smoke may not reach the animal and could even be dangerous if the animal is caught in the flue.
• Opening the damper: Opening the damper could give the animal access to your home. It’s best to leave it shut until a professional arrives.
• Opening the fireplace: Don’t open the fireplace when trying to get a squirrel out of the fireplace (or any other critter). This could inadvertently give the critter access to your home.

How We Get Animals Out of the Chimney

At Critter Control, we use special techniques to safely and humanely evacuate the animal out of your chimney. In some instances, we use exclusion devices, which is common with birds or bats. These help us remove the animal from your chimney safely and unharmed.

In the case of raccoons and larger animals, we use humane traps to evacuate the animals safely. While our methods vary based on the type of animal, we always strive to use humane methods that keep both the animal and your family safe.

How Much Does a Pest Control Inspection Cost?

The cost of a pest control inspection varies based on factors specific to your situation, including location, property size, and the type of pests involved. We can give you a quote once we learn more about your pest infestation.

How to Keep Critters Out Of Your Chimney

The best practice to avoid having wildlife in your chimney is through prevention. A sturdy chimney cap excludes animals, preventing them from sneaking into your home without impeding airflow through your chimney. Additionally, regular chimney inspection and maintenance can help you find and address potential entry points before the animals can make themselves at home.

If you’re dealing with this issue and are wondering who to call when an animal is stuck in your chimney, feel free to contact us at Critter Control. We can help with animal removal from your chimney.