The arrival of spring brings warmer temperatures, longer days, new growth, and plenty of cute baby animals. Unfortunately, spring is also the season of animal entry into chimneys. In middle Tennessee, there are several different animals seeking solace in chimneys. The following is a guide to chimney animal entry, what kinds of animals we commonly find, and prevention.
Bird Entry
Birds, particularly chimney swifts, love chimneys. The dark, enclosed space of the flue makes an ideal nesting ground for many birds, particularly in areas where housing and development has replaced their natural habitats.
While most birds and their nesting materials can be quickly and easily removed, some are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The act protects birds like chimney swifts during their nesting period, making it a federal offense for them to be removed. Luckily, most migratory birds have a short nesting period of less than six weeks. After six weeks, we remove the remaining nesting materials.
Animal Entry
Some of the most common animals found in chimneys include bats, squirrels, and raccoons. Raccoons can be particularly dangerous; in addition to carrying disease, they can sometimes make it past the smoke shelf and into your home. Likewise, raccoons claw and gnaw around the chimney in order to create a hole large enough for them to fit through.
How Animals Get In
There are dozens of ways that animals find their ways into the chimney. Holes, gaps, and cracks as small as a few inches might seem insignificant, but in reality can provide enough space for small animals to squeeze through.
One of the most common ways that animals get into the chimney is through a damaged chimney cap. If the chimney cap is damaged or not installed correctly, animals of all sizes can gain entry to the chimney.
Preventing Future Animal Entry
It is important to prevent animals from coming back after their removal. At Coopertown Services, our highly trained staff has more than 30 years of experience safely and humanely removing wildlife. We are licensed by the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency and are Natural Wildlife Control Operators Association members.
Our technicians take an average of 10-12 hours to inspect, repair, and seal every inch of your chimney. By using metal, steel mesh, and stainless steel screws, we fully secure every inch of your chimney against future animal entry. In fact, we are so confident that we can keep animals out permanently that we offer a renewable 1-year guarantee.
If you come home to the tell-tale sounds – or smells – of an animal in the chimney, don’t delay; call Coopertown Services and allow our trained wildlife experts to safely and humanely remove them. For more information on what kinds of animals you are likely to find in your chimney in middle Tennessee or to schedule your next chimney services, contact us today!