Squirrels
Small animals stuck in the flue or on the damper are removed since they cannot climb back out.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Animal Removal Stratford, NJ
A chimney sweep in Stratford can remove birds, raccoons, squirrels and nests from your chimney along with the nest and debris they leave behind. Call (856) 441-8084 to reach a local chimney sweep.
Without a cap, a chimney is an open invitation to wildlife. Birds build nests on the smoke shelf or damper, raccoons den on the smoke shelf to raise their young, and squirrels fall in and cannot climb back out. Each one brings nesting material that blocks the flue, droppings that smell and the risk of the animal getting into the house.
It is tempting to light a fire and force the animal out, but it does more harm than good. Babies cannot escape, nesting material can ignite and smoke can back up into the room. Close the damper and glass doors if you have them, and keep children and pets away until the animal is out.
The type of animal decides how and when it can be removed. Chimney swifts are protected under federal law as migratory birds, so an active nest stays until the birds leave for the season. A raccoon with kits needs patience, and the approach has to fit the wildlife rules in New Jersey. Afterward, a chimney cap with screening is what keeps the next one out.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, a Stratford chimney sweep may also recommend chimney cap installation or chimney cleaning.
Need chimney animal removal in Stratford? Call (856) 441-8084 to reach a nearby chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
The chimney animal removal process
Here is how a sweep typically handles an animal in the chimney.
Start with the clues
Sounds, droppings, timing and a look up the flue tell the technician what is living in the chimney which decides what happens next.
Set the approach
If chimney swifts are nesting, the sweep will advise on when the nest can come out and you hear what to expect.
Humane removal
Animals are removed by hand, with a catch pole, through a one-way exit or by letting a mother move her young without harming them.
Clean out the flue
All debris left behind is cleared out and the flue is swept if needed.
Deodorize
The smoke shelf and firebox are cleaned and treated for odor which helps with lingering smells.
Add a cap
A cap that covers the flue and blocks wildlife is fitted and any damage at the top is noted.
What is included
Common chimney animal problems
Bat exclusion
Bats are excluded rather than trapped and the top is sealed after they are gone.
Bird nests
Nests on the smoke shelf, damper or in the flue are cleared and the flue is capped afterward.
Raccoon dens
A raccoon living in the chimney is removed without harming the kits.
Dead animal removal
Dead animals are removed and the area cleaned and deodorized so the odor fades.
Related service
Bird Nest Removal Stratford, NJ
Birds nest in chimneys because the inside of a flue is dry, sheltered and hard for predators to reach. A nest of dry twigs and grass is both a blockage and a fire hazard. In furnace or water heater flues, a nest can cause carbon monoxide to spill indoors, so working CO alarms matter.
Chimney swifts are a protected migratory bird, so their nests can only be removed after nesting season, once the birds have left. A sweep in Stratford will advise on timing, then remove the old nest and install a cap afterwards so they cannot return. Other birds may be handled on a different schedule depending on the species, so ask the sweep.
Related service
Raccoon Removal Stratford, NJ
An uncapped chimney is a favorite den for raccoons, especially mothers with kits. Noises at dusk and dawn and the sound of young calling are typical. Raccoons can carry disease, and their droppings can hold roundworm eggs, so leave removal to someone equipped for it.
The young are often removed first so the mother can relocate them, and the chimney is checked empty before it is sealed. Wildlife rules in New Jersey can limit trapping and relocation, which shapes how the removal is done. Then the area is sanitized and a strong cap is fastened down to keep the next raccoon out.
Local help
Chimney Animal Removal Near Me
Animal calls in Stratford pick up in spring, once fires stop and animals look for sheltered dens. Around Stratford and in nearby towns like Somerdale, Lindenwold, Echelon and Magnolia, uncapped chimneys and branches that overhang the roof are the most common way animals get in. A cap with a mesh screen is the simplest fix, and trimming branches back from the roof helps too.
Need chimney animal removal around Stratford? Call (856) 441-8084 for a Stratford chimney sweep who serves the towns around it too.
What the local climate does to a chimney
Winters here are long and cold, and the heating season usually runs from October well into April. Masonry takes the worst of it from the freeze and thaw cycle: water soaks into brick, mortar joints and the crown on a mild day, freezes overnight and expands, and each winter widens the cracks a little more. Wind driven rain from coastal storms finds any gap in flashing, too. Most homeowners in Stratford, NJ schedule a sweep in early fall, and a repair check after a hard winter.
Why call
Why not wait
Smaller repairs
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Sweeps who know Stratford
Chimney sweeps in Stratford know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Straight answers
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Chimney Animal Removal FAQ
How do I get rid of a dead animal smell in my chimney?
A strong, rotting smell from the fireplace often means an animal has died in the flue or on the smoke shelf. Air fresheners will not help, since the animal and debris have to come out. Close the damper until it is removed.
What should I do about chimney swifts?
Because chimney swifts are protected, removal has to wait until the birds leave for the season. The sweep can tell you when it is allowed, then clean out the nest and add a cap. While you wait, keep the damper shut and the fireplace out of use.
Can I light a fire to get an animal out of my chimney?
Smoke is not a safe way to get an animal out of a chimney. It can kill young animals, start a nest fire and push smoke and carbon monoxide indoors. Close the damper and fireplace doors and leave the removal to a sweep.
How do I keep animals out of my chimney?
A chimney cap with a mesh screen is the most effective way to keep animals out. A strong, well-fastened cap holds up to raccoons, and the right mesh keeps out birds and squirrels. Cutting back branches that reach the roof makes the chimney harder to reach.
Are animals in the chimney dangerous?
An animal in the flue is more than a nuisance. Nests can block the flue and catch fire, droppings can carry disease, and raccoons can carry rabies and roundworm. A blocked flue on a furnace or water heater can also send carbon monoxide into the house, so keep CO alarms working.
More questions? Call (856) 441-8084
Often needed together
Chimney Cap Installation
Fitting a metal cap over the top of the flue sized to the flue tile or the whole crown.
Learn moreChimney Cleaning
Brushing and vacuuming the buildup from fireplace and stove chimneys of every kind, so the flue drafts well and burns safely.
Learn moreChimney Odor Removal
Removing chimney odors at the source instead of covering them up whether the smell shows up in summer heat or after rain.
Learn moreChimney Damper Repair
Fixing stuck, rusted or warped chimney dampers or replacing them with a top sealing damper.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
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