Squirrels are amazing climbers.
Squirrel in my chimney.
Squirrels are a typical pest that enters the home in a variety of ways usually living in the attic or chimney space.
Squirrels live in chimneys as well as attics.
The reason why a squirrel gets caught in your chimney is first of all they get to the top of the chimney and they re looking for warmth and it s usually your furnace flue that comes up.
Female squirrels instinctively seek out high areas in which to create a nest.
Assume that the squirrel you hear scrambling in a chimney is trapped unless you ve got clear evidence that they are able to climb back out on their own.
Your chimney is just like a big hollow tree to some animals.
Squirrels are one of the many animals that can fall into your chimney if you don t have a cap on top of it.
In most cases squirrels can climb out as long as the chimney is made from mortar stone or brick since there are nooks and crannies to hold onto.
Once the squirrel is inside it is a great home because it is warm and dry.
The squirrel may see the chimney as a hollow tree which is perfect for them to live in especially in the winter.
Most commonly a squirrel in a chimney is a female who wants a safe place to have a nest of baby squirrels.
In some instances though a squirrel will actually fall down a slick metal chimney flu and get stuck.
While squirrels rarely infest chimneys themselves the pests may nest in metal chimney boxes see picture below.
Squirrels in the chimney sometimes squirrels enter chimneys and are unable to climb back out forcing them to try to get out from a fireplace or basement ducts.
Here is what to do.
The best way to get a squirrel out of your chimney is by placing a squirrel chimney trap at the top of the flue which catches the critter as it exits.
If a squirrel falls down a chimney and becomes trapped inside the fireplace homeowners may be alerted to their presence via various sounds smells sights.
Squirrels are quite the climbers and use their skills to gain entry into the home via the roofline soffits fascia etc.
But if a squirrel has slipped past your defenses and has become stuck in the chimney or fireplace help is a only a phone call away.
In the case of slick metal tubes they will be stuck.
When squirrels begin living within your home you and your family are at risk for several reasons.
If there are babies inside the nest they can then be safely removed with a long chimney snare pole preferably by a wildlife specialist of chimney contractor.