How to Get Rid of a Raccoon in the Chimney
Raccoon Pest Control and Removal Suggestions
Jan 12, 2009
The first sign of a raccoon in the chimney may well be the noises it makes coming from the fireplace flue. Sometimes the home owner or a neighbor will spot the critter peeking out of the top of the smokestack in the early evening.
It is not uncommon for raccoons to climb into uncapped chimneys. But a raccoon in the chimney can cause numerous problems for the home-owner, the first being damage to the flue.
When and Why do Raccoons Move Into a Chimney?
The most likely time that a raccoon will invade an unprotected chimney is in the spring. While both genders seek out chimneys for sheltering purposes, pregnant female raccoons begin looking for safe, dry places to have their babies as early as late March or April. In some warmer climates, such as the U.S. south, the problem of raccoons nesting in chimneys can be year round.
According to Scott Diehl, Manager of the Wisconsin Humane Society’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Milwaukee (in a 2008 telephone interview), raccoons tend to instinctually seek dead, hollow trees for their habitat. In a raccoon’s mind a chimney “is just a really sturdy made-out-of-brick hollow tree.”
How Long Will the Raccoon Stay in the Chimney?
Typically the mother raccoon will stay in the chimney until the babies are big enough to climb out on their own. This generally takes about eight weeks. However, a raccoon who feels safe and comfortable may choose to stay much longer.
Can the Raccoon Get Into the House Via the Chimney?
Raccoons are not looking to get into a house – they prefer the accommodations provided by the smoke-shelf in the chimney. However, if the fireplace has a fully operational, but unsecured damper, it is possible for a raccoon to inadvertently find its way into the living space of the house.
Strategies to Get a Raccoon to Leave the Chimney
Do not light a fire in the chimney to try to smoke the raccoon out. If the damper is shut, this could cause carbon monoxide problems in the home. If the damper is loose, the smoke could kill the babies and cause extreme stress to the mother.
Scott Diehl recommends trying a combination of tactics to entice the raccoon to leave on its own:
- Sound: put a radio into the fireplace and turn it to a talk or rock station. Play the radio continually at the highest volume the homeowner can tolerate..
- Light: put a bright light, like a mechanic’s trouble light or a holiday floodlight down the chimney. If the damper is secure, but a bit loose, the light could be placed in the fireplace shining up.
- Smell: consider adding ammonia-soaked rags to the above tactics; this will need to be done with care so as not to get the smell into the house.
The idea, according to Mr. Diehl, is to get the animal who’s looking for a dark, quiet, warm, safe place to no longer find the chimney desirable. Mr. Diehl says the majority of people who’ve tried these tactics report success getting the raccoon to leave on its own after a day or two.
Another option is simply to leave the animal alone. If the damper is secure, a home owner who does not mind putting off having fires in the fireplace can simply wait it out. The raccoon will eventually leave on its own, though this may take several months. Surprisingly, these animals will leave very little, if any, scat behind. This is, after all, their living quarters; they prefer to keep it clean.
Chimney Safety and How to Keep the Raccoon From Coming Back
Once the raccoon and her babies have evacuated the chimney, it is best to call a professional chimneysweep to clean and inspect the flue for possible damage. Have the chimney professionally capped or screened as soon as possible after the raccoon leaves. This will prevent repeat visits.
Mr. Diehl stresses that prevention is the best way to deal with nuisance animals. He highly recommends that home owners get their chimneys capped and screened before they have a problem.
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