When an Animal is Stuck in Your Chimney

Dealing with an animal trapped in your house might be one of the most terrifying situations a homeowner can have. Whether the animal is trapped in your basement, attic, or chimney, dealing with it may be a terrifying experience. Furthermore, unlike renters, landowners are entirely responsible for resolving situations like this. That being stated, here is a list of things you can do if an animal becomes trapped in your chimney.

Consider the Following
Before you determine how to get rid of the animal caught in your chimney, there are a few factors you should consider. First, despite the fact that they can be deadly, the majority of animals that become trapped in your chimney do so by accident. In fact, wild animals commonly mistake chimneys for hollowed-out trees, unaware that they are attached to a residence.

Is the animal actually imprisoned?
In either case, it is critical to distinguish between a trapped animal and an animal that is merely nesting in your chimney. In general, a confined animal is anxious and may scratch or flap its wings constantly in an attempt to escape. An animal utilizing your chimney for refuge, on the other hand, will only wander around at particular times of the day because they may leave at any time.

What Should You Do If an Animal Gets Caught in Your Chimney?
Now that we’ve determined if the animal is genuinely imprisoned or nesting, let’s look at some of your alternatives for dealing with unwanted creatures in your chimney:

Rope it In: If you feel an animal, such as a squirrel, is in your chimney, you may assist them in escaping by inserting a 3/4-inch-thick rope into the chimney and making sure it is long enough to reach the damper. Make sure the rope is secure by attaching it to the top of the chimney. You may also build a rope by tying some sheets together. In any case, be sure you have someone watching you from the ladder and that your roof is safe for you to walk on. Leave the rope in place for a day or two before checking your chimney to see whether the squirrel has departed.

Bait and Switch: If the animal is stuck in the fireplace (rather than the chimney), you can put a live trap with peanut butter in the fireplace and let it enter at its leisure. However, because some animals seek to flee when confronted, make sure they have a free passage out of your home when you go to place the trap. This is a more complicated procedure that should only be used by specialists.

Nuisance Approach: If you have a raccoon in your chimney and want to get it out, throw apple cider vinegar down the chimney to cause a nuisance. Turning up a loud, irritating radio station on a portable radio and placing it beneath the damper may also assist persuade the family to relocate. It is up to you to define bothersome… but Bach and Beethoven are certainly calming.

Contact a Professional: While the recommendations above may work in some circumstances, each scenario is unique. You should never undertake anything that necessitates immediate contact with a wild animal. As a result, if you have no idea how to get rid of the animal or believe you may be endangering yourself by attempting to remove it yourself, you may contact your local animal control or engage a professional animal removal specialist to assist you. We’ve included a few of our favorite merchants on our Partners page; check if we can recommend someone in your region.

Moving ahead, have a professional Chimney Cleaning Oroville performed on a regular basis and spend the extra expense to have a robust chimney cover placed to avoid things like this from happening again. Just call Local Chimney Sweep Cleaning today.

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