Raccoons in Chimneys

Raccoons have nimble hands and strong claws that make them agile climbers. They have no trouble climbing into your chimney to make a den for shelter. Some raccoons find chimneys an excellent place to give birth to pups. Raccoons in chimneys can lead to damages that cost much time and money to repair. Getting raccoons out of your chimney can be tricky. Because they spread diseases, you don’t want to risk being bitten or scratched. Instead, you can contact wildlife control professionals for help.

Why Do Raccoons Go Into Chimneys?

Raccoons in chimneys are a common occurrence among homeowners today. While many homeowners place specialized caps on their smokestacks for this very reason, raccoons can gain entry by removing them manually. Raccoons can twist, turn, unsnap, and pop off chimney caps. A raccoon in the fireplace chimney is there for the following reasons:

• It’s warm
• It’s safe from predators
• They need a place to give birth to their young
• They want to stay close to a nearby food source

Having raccoons in your house is not something to ignore. Before removing them, please ensure they are raccoons and not other animals. Most wildlife requires different removal techniques.

Signs You Have a Raccoon in Your Chimney

You know your home better than anyone. If you suspect something is amiss, you are probably right. It can be stressful when you have signs of a raccoon in the house but aren’t entirely sure it is a raccoon. Fortunately, there are specific signs for which you can look, like the following:

• Physical changes to your chimney
• Damages to your chimney or surrounding area
• Foot tracks near the chimney base
• Feces in or around the chimney
• Noises coming from the chimney
• Sightings of raccoons near your home

Raccoon signs can be easy to spot once you know what to look and listen for. Having a raccoon in the chimney is something that needs immediate attention. The sooner you can identify it, the sooner you can focus on removal.

What Do Raccoons in Chimneys Sound Like?

Raccoons can make over 200 sounds with many tones and pitches. They can even make sounds that mimic babies and other animals. Matching the noises you hear with the signs you find will help you to know it is a raccoon in the chimney.

Hearing any of these sounds is a sign that you have raccoons in the chimney, and it is time to focus on getting rid of them.

How Long Will Raccoons Stay in Chimneys?

Raccoons in chimneys may decide to leave on their own after they give birth or when they run out of a food source. However, this is not always the case since raccoons travel six or more miles every night searching for food before returning to their den. Please don’t wait for a raccoon to leave on its own. While waiting, the raccoon could create even more damage to your property.

What Kinds of Damage Can Raccoons Cause in Chimneys?

Raccoons cause damage that ranges from minor and low cost to significant, costly repairs. Recognizing damage early can save you a lot of time and money. You can’t focus only on the chimney, though, as raccoons are very active at night. They travel in and out of the chimney multiple times, causing damage to your home’s roof, exterior, and lawn. Examples of potential damages include the following:

• Broken chimney caps
• Broken roof shingles
• Greasy smudge marks on the siding
• Torn or scratched siding
• Dented or broken soffits, fascia, or gutters
• Holes in your yard or rolled pieces of sod
• Ceiling leaks

If you notice any of these damages to your home, you should seek help from professional wildlife removal services. The infestation may be too risky to accomplish alone, especially since raccoons harbor diseases that can transfer to humans.

Do Raccoon Carry Diseases?

Raccoons can pass many diseases and parasites to humans through bites, scratches, and improper handling. One parasite example is the deadly raccoon roundworm. This parasite is found in feces and leads to liver enlargement, loss of muscle control, blindness, and disorientation. To avoid risks, you must allow wildlife control experts to remove raccoon feces from your chimney and sanitize it properly.

Other parasites include:

• Fleas
• Ticks
• Mites
• Lice

Each parasite carries another list of pathogens harmful to humans, like Lyme disease and other bacterial infections. Specific examples of diseases and effects of raccoons in chimneys include:

• Rabies causes muscle pain, dizziness, fatigue, fever, and delirium.
• Leptospirosis causes fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, jaundice, and potentially kidney or liver failure.
• Giardiasis causes bloating, vomiting, indigestion, and loss of appetite.
• ​Salmonellosis can lead to nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Raccoons are most dangerous any time they feel threatened, which includes during attempts to remove them from their den or when they’re protecting their young. These are the times you are at most risk for a bite or scratch.

How Do You Get Raccoons Out of a Chimney?

Homeowners often try do-it-yourself raccoon removal methods before calling a professional. Some wait it out and let the raccoon leave on its own. Removing raccoons can be easy for some and difficult for others. Many factors contribute to success and failure, including having the right equipment for safety, knowing the laws regarding raccoon trapping and relocation, and having the correct permits.

Wildlife removal technicians can eliminate raccoons in chimneys without breaking laws and with safe and humane trapping systems. They are efficient and implement numerous techniques to prevent future raccoon problems.

Raccoon Trapping

Raccoon trapping is not something homeowners should try without the help of a professional. There are specific necessities that most homeowners do not have before trapping can begin, such as:

• Trap that is safe and humane
• Trap that is the right size for the size of the raccoon and its pups
• Correct bait to lure animals to the trap
• Permit for trapping issued by your state
• Where to take the animal for testing, if required by your county

Trapping without the proper equipment can be very dangerous. Raccoons can scratch and bite you through the cage’s holes, putting you at risk for parasites and diseases. You also risk encountering raccoon feces, which also harbors diseases.

Raccoon Repellents and Use of Sound, Lights, and Smells

Raccoon deterrents and repellents may work to get rid of a raccoon in the chimney, at least temporarily. Raccoons are investigators and won’t leave an area until they know they are in danger. For example, if you use predator urine to scare raccoons, they will not leave until they see that predator. If they don’t see it, they stay. Many homeowners find over-the-counter products a waste of money and ineffective in resolving their problems.

Examples of sounds, lights, and smells that many try to repel raccoons include:

• Motion-activated lights
• Motion-activated sound systems
• Windchimes
• Predator calls
• Essential oils
• Cayenne pepper
• Ammonia
• Playing a radio
• Over-the-counter sprays

While some of these deterrents may work, there are downsides to them. Applying scents that raccoons hate must be done frequently. One spray is not enough to keep raccoons away. Stronger-smelling products like moth balls and ammonia work better but are harmful and sometimes fatal to pets and other animals.

Even if raccoon deterrents and repellents work, you are still left with unsanitary conditions that must be cleaned using proper methods to avoid your family getting sick. Wildlife control experts have sanitization methods that leave your chimney and surrounding areas clean and safe.

Professional Raccoon in Chimney Removal

Hiring raccoon removal professionals is the safest solution to your problem. They have years of experience removing the most stubborn raccoons while keeping families and pets safe. Aside from experience, the following are sound reasons why many homeowners choose to hire professionals:

• They have certifications and permits to complete the removal process.
• They have safe and humane trapping systems and know which bait to use.
• They understand all local and state laws and permits required for removal.
• They provide thorough sanitization after raccoon removal.
• They have a three-step process:
  • Comprehensive inspection to identify wildlife, damages, and repairs
  • Proper removal of the animal
  • Implement exclusions to prevent future raccoon invasions
  • Assist in repairs of damages caused by raccoons

Critter Control’s raccoon removal services are quick and effective, beginning with a free inspection. The technicians are highly trained, insured, certified, and eager to help you get rid of your wildlife problems.

How to Keep Raccoons Out of Your Property

Some exclusion methods that wildlife control experts use to keep raccoons out of your property include sealing all entry points into your home that are the size of a softball or larger, which is all the space a raccoon needs.

Other exclusion and prevention methods include removing bird feeders, properly storing pet or livestock feed, enclosing gardens, eliminating standing water sources and installing roof or tree barriers. Professionals can ensure raccoons stay out of your chimney for good.