Picture this, you’re about to sit down to read the paper or a good book on your tablet and you hear a cry coming from your fireplace. It can’t be the kids; they’re fast asleep in their bedrooms. It’s usually around this time of year that animals like squirrels, raccoons and birds get stuck in your chimney. While you might be tempted to remove the animal yourself, you might want to consider calling a professional to remove it..
It is not advisable to try to smoke a squirrel (or any other animal) out of a chimney, as a trapped animal and its young babies maybe trapped and unable to climb out. Certain species of birds such as the Apodidae, better known as the Chimney Swift is protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 and homeowners are prohibited unless they have a waiver to pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill or sell any of the 800 species of birds that are on the list.
In order to prevent animals from gaining access to your chimney in the future you should either get a spark arrestor screen and/or a cap installed on your chimney. You can pick one up yourself or you can call Professional Chimney Cleaners and we’d be happy to install it for you. We carry a full line of chimney caps and spark arrestors.
