Chimney Animal Removal

Who moves into New Jersey chimneys

The usual visitors are birds, raccoons and squirrels. Bats occasionally roost in chimneys too. Each one calls for a different approach, and one of them is protected by federal law.

• Chimney swifts are small, dark birds that spend the warm months in New Jersey and nest inside chimneys. You usually hear their young chattering in summer.
• Raccoons often use the smoke shelf or the top of the damper as a den, especially in spring when they have young.
• Squirrels fall in or climb down and then cannot climb back up a smooth flue.
• Other birds fall in, build nests on top of caps or block flues with twigs.

Our Academy guide on animals and nests in the chimney explains how to tell them apart by sound and timing.

What to do right now

• Keep the damper and fireplace doors closed so nothing gets into the house.
• Do not light a fire or use smoke to drive an animal out. A trapped or nesting animal may not be able to leave, and nest material can catch fire.
• Do not try to reach into the flue or pull out nesting material yourself.
• If an animal is already loose in the house, open a door to the outside, close interior doors and give it space.

Chimney swifts: why we sometimes have to wait

Chimney swifts are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Under U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service policy, a nest that holds eggs or young birds that still depend on it cannot be destroyed without federal authorization. Once the young have fledged and the birds have left, the empty nest can be removed, as long as no birds, eggs or chicks are harmed.

In New Jersey, swifts breed roughly from May through August. In practical terms:

• If swifts are nesting, the nest stays until the birds leave for the season.
• Keep the damper closed and avoid using the fireplace in the meantime. The noise usually lasts a few weeks.
• After they leave, we can remove the nest, clean the flue and fit a cap so the chimney is closed before they return the next spring.

How we assess it

The visit starts with an assessment so we know what is in the chimney and where. Removal, cleanup and capping are all handled by our crew. We listen and look from the firebox, check the damper and smoke shelf, and use a chimney camera when the flue allows. When it is safe to reach, we check the top of the chimney for the entry point, the cap and any damage the animal caused. You get our findings with photos before work is scheduled.

If the animal is a protected bird with an active nest, the assessment ends with a plan for capping the chimney once the birds have gone.

Removal, cleanup and keeping them out

1. Humane removalFor mammals such as raccoons and squirrels, the goal is to get the animal and any young out alive and on their way. We do the removal ourselves, and methods depend on the animal and where it is in the chimney. Removal is done in line with New Jersey wildlife rules.
2. Nest and debris removalNesting material, droppings and food waste are removed from the flue, smoke shelf and damper area.
3. CleaningAnimal debris is a fire risk and a source of odor. The flue is cleaned once it is clear.
4. Damage checkWe look for torn screens, bent dampers, damaged liners and chewed flashing.
5. Closing the openingA properly fitted chimney cap with mesh is the main defense. On factory-built chimneys, the chase top and termination cap are checked as well.

Odors after an animal visit

A smell that gets worse in humid weather can mean nest material, droppings or an animal that died in the chimney. Removing the source and cleaning the flue usually addresses it. If odor continues, our guide on fireplace smells covers other causes.

Keeping animals out for good

Most animal problems start at an open flue. A few checks help keep them from coming back:

• Make sure every flue in the chimney is covered, including the furnace or water heater flue. Animals do not distinguish between them.
• Look at the cap after storms. Bent mesh or a cap that has shifted can leave a gap.
• Check that the mesh openings are intact. Rust can open holes over time.
• Trim tree branches that hang over or touch the roof near the chimney. They give squirrels and raccoons a path.
• On factory-built chimneys, check that the termination cap and chase top are intact and secured.

If you know swifts use your chimney, the time to cap is after they leave for the season and before they return in spring. Some homeowners choose to leave a clean, unused masonry chimney open for swifts. If you take that route, keep the damper closed and make sure no appliance vents into that flue.

Limitations

We cannot remove an active nest of a protected species. We cannot always see an animal that is hidden behind a damper or in an offset in the flue until it is opened. And a cap only works if it fits the flue and stays intact, so damaged or loose caps should be replaced.

Next step

If you hear something in your chimney, request a visit. Tell us what you hear and when, since that helps us plan. A team member will contact you to confirm a time.

Questions homeowners ask

Sources

1. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Migratory Bird Permit Memorandum on nest destruction (MBPM-2)
2. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918
3. Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey: Chimney Swift