Why Animals Love Your Chimney
An uncapped chimney is an open invitation to wildlife. The dark, enclosed space mimics the hollow trees and caves that raccoons, chimney swifts, and squirrels naturally seek for nesting. A chimney offers warmth, protection from predators, and easy access — especially for raccoons, which are excellent climbers.
Common Chimney Invaders
- Raccoons: The most common chimney invader in the Triangle. Female raccoons frequently use chimneys as birthing dens in spring, and their size can cause significant damage to chimney components
- Chimney swifts: These birds are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and build nests of twigs glued to the inside of chimney walls. It is illegal to remove them while nesting
- Squirrels: Can fall into chimneys and become trapped, or intentionally use the space as an entry point to your attic
- Bats: May roost in chimneys, particularly behind dampers and in the smoke shelf area
Signs of Animals in Your Chimney
- Scratching, chattering, or crying sounds coming from the fireplace
- Strong animal odor or droppings in the firebox
- Debris (sticks, leaves, nesting material) falling into the fireplace
- Raccoons seen climbing on or near your chimney
Our Chimney Wildlife Removal Process
We start with an inspection to identify the animal and assess the situation. Raccoons are typically removed with humane trapping methods. Once the animal is removed, we clean and sanitize the chimney area and install a professional chimney cap to prevent future wildlife entry. A chimney cap is the single best prevention investment a homeowner can make.