There are so many wonderful things about springtime! The grass is soft and fresh, the leaves are budding and the flowers are springing up out of the ground. Your garden is freshly tilled and the new plants are peeking through the soft dirt. You can throw open the windows and let the fresh breeze blow through, sweeping away the stale air of winter. Baby animals are born, the little bunnies hop through the grass, the lambs are running in the pasture. Birds are building their nests in your chimney. Wait – what? Yes, your chimney actually is an ideal place for a bird looking to build a nest – or a squirrel or a raccoon, for that matter. It’s warm, it’s protected from the wind, and it’s a safe place to hide from predators.
Unwelcome Guests
Sometimes birds and animals choose your chimney to build a nest, and sometimes they may fall down your chimney by accident and get stuck there. Either way, you probably want to get those animals out. Why? There are several reasons it’s not a good idea to leave these visitors living in your chimney.
Birds and other critters that decide to use your chimney as a nesting place will make some noise. Maybe you’re not bothered by the scratching and chirping that will probably be going on; if it’s not too big of an inconvenience, you’ll be happy to know that the noises will probably only last a couple of weeks before the little ones are old enough to move out. It’s important to note that it is illegal to take certain types of birds out of your chimney if they are nesting. In this case, you’ll just want to wait until the birds are out of the nest. It’s after they’ve left that the danger comes in. The nests that are left behind will dry out and, if left in your chimney, could easily catch a spark from a fire you’ve built, which could definitely result in a chimney fire.
When birds or other animals take up residence in your chimney, nests aren’t the only thing they leave behind. The Animal Control Specialist website tells us that they can leave flies and fleas behind. They also leave urine and droppings, which can cause excess odor in your home. And even worse, if animals die in your chimney, they’ll leave a bad odor that only removal can solve.
Humane Removal
If the animal in your chimney is still alive, it’s a good idea to make sure that the removal company you use will be humane in how they go about removing it. The Humane Society website gives some of the following tips for choosing a good animal removal specialist:
- Ask for an inspection and a removal cost estimate
- Ask for specifics on how the animal will be removed
- Be attentive for unethical practices
- Get referrals from trusted sources
Call Chimney Sweep Plus
When you have an animal in your chimney, it’s important to call a company that knows how to remove it efficiently and humanely. That company is Chimney Sweep Plus. They have the expertise and the know how to do the job right.
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