Squirrels
Small animals stuck in the flue or on the damper are removed since they cannot climb back out.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Animal Removal Severn, MD
A local sweep can clear animals out of a Severn chimney and install a cap so they cannot get back in. One call to (443) 899-3081 reaches a chimney sweep near you.
To birds, raccoons and squirrels, an uncapped chimney is a dry, sheltered den. Raccoons den above the damper, birds nest in the flue and small animals like squirrels can fall in and get stuck. The result is a blocked flue, odors, noise and sometimes an animal loose in the living room.
Do not try to smoke an animal out by lighting a fire. It can kill young animals that cannot leave, set the nest on fire and fill the house with smoke. Keep the damper and any fireplace doors closed so the animal stays in the chimney, and keep pets away from the fireplace.
The type of animal decides how and when it can be removed. Chimney swifts are protected, which means waiting until they migrate before the nest comes out. Raccoons, squirrels and bats each have their own methods, and wildlife rules in Maryland can affect how they are handled. Every removal should end with a cap on the flue.
Many chimney animal removal calls in Severn also turn up a need for chimney cap installation or chimney cleaning.
Need chimney animal removal in Severn? Call (443) 899-3081 to reach a nearby chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
The chimney animal removal process
Safe removal depends on knowing what is in the chimney and planning around it.
Start with the clues
Sounds, droppings, timing and a look up the flue tell the technician what is living in the chimney and whether young are involved.
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.
Remove the animal
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
Nests, sticks, droppings and debris are removed from the smoke shelf, damper and flue so smoke can draft freely.
Clean up
Droppings and contaminated debris are bagged and the area is cleaned and deodorized since droppings can carry disease.
Seal the top
A cap that covers the flue and blocks wildlife is fitted so the problem does not repeat next season.
What is included
Common chimney animal problems
Bats
Bats in a chimney are handled with exclusion devices that let them leave but not return because they are protected in many places.
Birds
Starlings, swifts and other birds and their nests are removed with timing that respects nesting season as covered in more detail below.
Raccoons
Raccoons and their young are removed from the smoke shelf and flue without harming the kits.
Dead animal removal
An animal that died in the chimney is removed and the odor treated before the fireplace is used again.
Related service
Bird Nest Removal Severn, MD
Birds like starlings and chimney swifts are drawn to open flues for nesting. Their nests sit on the smoke shelf, the damper or the flue walls, and the dry twigs and grass can block the draft and catch fire with the first fire of the season. Nests in flues that serve gas or oil appliances are a carbon monoxide risk too, since they can push exhaust back into the house.
Because chimney swifts are protected, their nests cannot be disturbed during nesting season. A sweep in Severn will advise on timing, then remove the old nest and install a cap afterwards so they cannot return. Other species can often be handled sooner, depending on the bird and the rules that apply.
Related service
Raccoon Removal Severn, MD
An uncapped chimney is a favorite den for raccoons, especially mothers with kits. The signs are chattering and whimpering from the young and the mother leaving at dusk and returning before dawn. Never reach into the chimney or try to grab a raccoon, since they can carry rabies and their droppings can carry roundworm.
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 Maryland can limit trapping and relocation, which shapes how the removal is done. With the den cleared, the smoke shelf is sanitized and a heavy-duty cap goes on, because raccoons can pull off weak ones.
Local help
Chimney Animal Removal Near Me
In Severn, wildlife moves into chimneys mostly in spring and summer, when the fireplace is cold. Around Severn and in nearby towns like Gambrills, Jessup, Odenton and Elkridge, uncapped chimneys and branches that overhang the roof are the most common way animals get in. Capping the flue is the main defense, along with keeping tree limbs off the roof.
Need chimney animal removal around Severn? Call (443) 899-3081 for a Severn chimney sweep who serves the towns around it too.
Chimneys in this climate
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: rain and melting snow soak into the crown and joints, then freeze and push them apart, and each winter widens the cracks a little more. Nor'easters drive rain sideways into flashing and mortar that looked fine in summer. Most homeowners in Severn, MD schedule a sweep in early fall, and a repair check after a hard winter.
Why call
Why fix it now
Safer fires
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Sweeps who know Severn
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across Severn and nearby towns.
Straight answers
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Chimney Animal Removal FAQ
What should I do about a dead animal smell in the fireplace?
A strong, rotting smell from the fireplace often means an animal has died in the flue or on the smoke shelf. The animal has to be removed, along with any nest and droppings, and the area cleaned and deodorized. Keep the damper shut in the meantime.
Will smoke drive an animal out of the chimney?
Lighting a fire is the wrong move with an animal in the chimney. Babies cannot escape, nesting material can catch fire and a blocked flue can fill the room with smoke. Close the damper, keep pets away and have the animal removed safely.
Are animals in the chimney dangerous?
Wildlife in a chimney brings several risks. Nests can block the flue and catch fire, droppings can carry disease, and raccoons can carry rabies and roundworm. If the chimney vents a gas appliance, a blockage can cause carbon monoxide to back up, which makes working CO alarms important.
What should I do about chimney swifts?
Chimney swifts are protected under federal law, and their nests cannot be removed while they are in use. 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.
What stops birds and raccoons from getting into a chimney?
Capping the flue with a mesh-sided cap stops most animals. Choose a cap that is fastened securely and has mesh fine enough to stop birds. Cutting back branches that reach the roof makes the chimney harder to reach.
More questions? Call (443) 899-3081
Related services
Chimney Cap Installation
Putting a sturdy cap on top of the chimney so water, birds and debris stay out of the flue.
Learn moreChimney Cleaning
Brushing and vacuuming the buildup from wood-burning fireplaces, stoves and inserts, so the flue drafts well and burns safely.
Learn moreChimney Odor Removal
Tracking down the creosote, moisture or animal behind a smelly fireplace whether the smell shows up in summer heat or after rain.
Learn moreChimney Damper Repair
Fixing stuck, rusted or warped chimney dampers including handles, chains and seals.
Learn more
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