Are raccoons in your chimney in Eads, TN? Raccoons are one of the most commonly found animals in chimneys. Similar to hollow trees, chimneys are a favorite and sought after nursery for a mother raccoon. In addition to a family, it is also possible for a bachelor raccoon to set up residence in a chimney. Raccoons are extremely good climbers! They can easily climb up and onto a roof and slip into a nice, warm chimney.
When Do Raccoons Have Babies?
The typical raccoon breeding season begins around December. They will give birth to around three to five kits in the spring. During this time you may start to hear the crying of baby raccoons coming from the direction of your fireplace.
DON’T Do This If You Have Baby Raccoons In Your Chimney In Eads TN!
Raccoon babies will usually sleep all day. During that time the mother raccoon will leave her babies along to forage for food and water. You may think that the family has left the chimney because it is so quiet. NEVER cap or seal a chimney before you are certain that the baby raccoons have been removed. Otherwise the mother raccoon will tear your home apart in an attempt to get to her crying babies. If you seal your chimney with the baby raccoons still inside, they will eventually die.
Never, EVER Use Fire!
If you believe there are raccoons in your chimney then you want to keep the damper closed, and contact a qualified wildlife technician. Do not open the damper or you might dump one or more terrified raccoons right into your living room! You just never know if the raccoons are actually nesting on top of the damper.
Some people think that if the raccoon was able to get into the chimney, then it can get out. These people might try to flush the raccoons out by either building a fire or turning on a gas fireplace. This is extremely inhumane! The mother would do everything in her power to save her babies, and the family would burn to death.
How We Can Help
A wildlife technician will come to your home to perform an interior and exterior inspection. He will ask questions about the conditions in and around your home. Do you think the wildlife have access to the attic? What time of day are you hearing the most activity? This information on the types of noises you hear and the time of day can help identify the species involved. For more information about raccoons, check out Raccoon Removal In Eads TN
The technician will listen to the chimney from inside your home to locate the position of the animal. The technician will then go to the attic to look for fecal droppings, chewed wires, and damage to your HVAC. When the technician has noted all the interior findings he moves on to perform an exterior inspection. He will use a ladder to inspect the chimney from top to bottom for any entry points. An entry point could be a missing brick or gaps in the foundation. Once our technician has assessed all the entry points, he will review his finding with you. He will review photographs of any damage, and provide with you a quote for repairs. You may only need a chimney cap which would be a quick and easy fix.
How We Trap Raccoons
If babies are in the chimney, we will use eviction fluid which sets off a biological reaction in the mother. Her reaction to the smell can take a couple of days to take effect. When it does, the mother raccoon will move her babies to another location without any additional prompting from us. This is the best way for babies to survive and is safest method for everyone. Trapping the mother and babies together will cause the mother to become stressed. This could cause her to attack her babies. If the raccoons are trapped in separate cages, there is the possibility that the mother will reject the babies.
If there are no babies in the chimney, an excluder trap will be placed over the main point of entry. Excluder traps are one way traps which allow the raccoon to leave the chimney. However, the raccoon will not be able to re-enter the chimney. All other areas where the raccoon may have the ability to get in or out will be sealed. The raccoon will have to go into the excluder trap if they want to get out.
Raccoon Removal Warranty
Apex offers a one-year warranty on full exclusion work. The warranty covers all of the work we performed that wildlife may attempt to tear out or damage. If the wildlife re-enters your home through an area that we sealed then we will reseal that area for free. The warranty does not cover new holes; only damage made to work that we have previously performed.
Apex Wildlife Control services all of Shelby County. Please give us a call at 901-598-8555 if you have raccoons in your chimney in Eads, TN. We are here and eager to help you!
