Raccoons, Squirrels, Rats, Mice, Snakes, Bats and other nuisance wildlife species are constantly searching for food, shelter, and water.
Mice and bats only need an entry hole the size of a pencil.
Squirrels can squeeze into an entry hole the size of your fist.
Raccoons can fit into an entry hole smaller than a football.
Animal Damage Repairs
Rodents like Squirrels, Rats, and Mice gnaw on everything to manage their constantly growing teeth. Rodents can easily chew through materials such as wood, vinyl, plastic, asphalt shingles, and even soft metals like aluminum.
Hear Something in Your Chimney? Animals will get into the house many ways. The chimney is not too different from a hollow tree, which makes it a suitable habitat for many species of wildlife. An uncapped chimney provides easy access to your home. Raccoons can easily remove chimney caps. Professionally installed Animal-proof chimney caps or grates are always the best option.
Signs of Animals in Chimney
Noises - Squeaking and scratching in the morning or at night.
Odors- If a smell is coming from the fireplace or chimney clean out in the basement. Wildlife may have died in the chimney, left droppings, or the animal is currently living there.
Mama Raccoons frequently use chimneys in the late winter or spring as a den site to give birth to their litter of baby Raccoon pups.
What Animals Enter Chimneys?
Raccoons - will take advantage of any available shelter.
Bats - Naturally living in caves and tree hollows, Bats seek out chimneys for breeding and safe shelter.
Squirrels - Like Raccoons, Squirrels use chimneys to give birth and shelter during the colder months.
Birds - Uncovered chimneys can shelter birds including chimney swifts, sparrows, wood ducks, and owls.
Preventing Animals in Chimneys
Timing is everything when removing animals from chimneys.
Sealing an entry point too soon can trap babies inside, leading to further damage from the mother. She will break into other parts of the structure causing more damage to the property.
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