The Simple Method To Humanely Remove Squirrels From Your Chimney

Squirrels might look cute as they run across your yard or make their home in a nearby tree. However, things can change quickly if you hear scratching and scurrying coming from inside your chimney. Your first instinct may be to panic, but there are humane ways to remove a squirrel from a chimney. One method is to drop a rope down the chimney. This gives the squirrel something to grab onto to climb out. It is an affordable and humane way to help a squirrel out of a chimney, without risking your safety or the animal's safety by reaching down or breaking into the structure.

While you may not see the risk of letting a squirrel hang out in your chimney during the colder months, having these tiny critters in that space is a fire hazard. Materials that squirrels use for nesting, like sticks and leaves, can build up in the chimney, which can lead to restricted airflow. Lighting your fireplace can also be extremely dangerous for the squirrels inside, as they will not be able to escape the smoke or heat. Safety should remain a top priority when it comes to finding ways to get rid of squirrels in your chimney. If you are unable to coax it out of the chimney with a rope, you should call your local animal control or humane society for assistance.

If you have noticed scratching noises coming from your chimney, there may be squirrels inside. It is likely they have nested there as a safe place to raise their babies and hide from predators. However, certain chimneys are impossible for squirrels to get out of without help. Dropping a rope down the chimney is the first humane method you should try. You would want to tie one end of the rope securely around the chimney itself. Make sure the rope's length is long enough to reach the damper so the squirrels can jump on it. Give the squirrels time to become comfortable enough to use the rope and keep watch to determine whether they leave. If they do not use the rope, they may be injured and in need of specialized attention.

Rope is a common material for crafters and homeowners to have on hand, but there are other options if you need a quick solution. You can tie together bed sheets to create a makeshift rope that the squirrels can grip onto and climb out. Some homeowners have had luck using a long board or pole down the chimney. These work best if it has some sort of texture for traction. Others have even tried playing loud music to annoy the animals and encourage them to leave, but this is more of a temporary solution.

Once you have the squirrels safely removed from your chimney, it is time to add protection to the structure to help make sure they do not return. Using a chimney cap is a simple and effective way to block off any entrance to the chimney and keep squirrels from getting stuck inside. These devices sit directly on top of the chimney flue and often have some sort of a mesh screen to keep animals and debris from entering. A standard Shelter Square Chimney Cap is less than $60 at Lowe's, which is considerably cheaper than the national average of $170 for a one-time visit from a pest control professional. 

It might also be helpful to examine your chimney for any cracks or openings in the material where critters could enter. Some also take extra steps and fill their gardens with plants known to repel squirrels. These funny little creatures do not like to be around any type of Alliums, which are very scented plants in the onion family. Adding these to your space, as well as installing a chimney cap, are great lines of defense against squirrels and will prevent you from having to remove them in the future.