There is a squirrel in my chimney

[B2G]

Sitting on top of the flue to be exact. All pissed off. I'm not exactly thrilled with this development either.

Any advice? I'm at a loss here and the dogs are going insane.

[PoliticAverse]

1. This type of problem usually solves itself eventually... n/t

[etherealtruth]

2. Oh the poor little "guy"

Is it possible to call animal control?

[B2G]

3. I did

They said unless it was IN the house, there was nothing they would do.

[etherealtruth]

5. Ah sh*t! Sorry, I have nothing ...:-(

[malaise]

6. Get some nuts on the roof near the chimney

[NYC_SKP]

7. Glenn Beck and Michelle Bachmann?

I'd LOVE to see that!

[malaise]

20. Thread winner

I was thinking real nuts but a nut by any name is still a nut.
Thinking of recommending Christie, but B2G doesn't need to contemplate reroofing

[B2G]

22. Lol!

At least they'd be good for something.

[Politicalboi]

53. Turn on your TV to Secret Squirrel

And make some coco. He'll be down in minutes. Then when he's in your home, call animal control

[B2G]

55. Well we've established that he doesn't care for Vanderpump Rules

Hoping he's more partial to the Olympics.

[Cooley Hurd]

4. I guess I'd, if faced with the same situation, would confine the dogs in another room...

...then open the flue all the way and open the front door. Squirrel will find his way down and out eventually.

[B2G]

8. No freaking way

Those little bastards can tear up a house. The whole 'will find his way out EVENTUALLY' part is not happening.

[TheCowsCameHome]

23. That's meant to be a joke, right?

You don't want those furry little rats in your house.

[Cooley Hurd]

36. No. Not a joke. My comment is based on concern for the well-being of the "rat".

Call me an asshole for caring about fellow mammals.

[B2G]

44. While I am also 'concerned' for the furry little guy,

that takes a back seat to my home. I'm sure you understand...

[Mojorabbit]

47. It actually is the best way to handle it

It is a squirrel. It will not do a lot of damage. I do wildlife rehab. I have had escaped squirrels and all manner of other animals too at one time or another and not one has ever torn up my house. It wants out as bad as you want it out! The screen on your chimney must be damaged. I once had a whole family of flying squirrels take up residence years ago in my chimney because of that. Good luck.

[snpsmom]

77. That's interesting

because one got into our chimney, chewed through the wall, got into our house and tore up a bunch of stuff just last week.

[Mojorabbit]

78. Must of been in there a good amount of time

to be able to chew through the chimney and the wall! Wow! My sister had one come down her metal fireplace a couple of years ago. She opened the door and it was out in under fifteen minutes. I have fielded numerous phone calls for the same thing over the past thirty years and there has never been a problem using that strategy.

[phil89]

86. The suffering

and potential death or starvation of an animal is less important than your stuff? Absolutely sickening.

[B2G]

88. Hey, I love animals

but there are some things I draw the line at, like risking my life to climb up on a roof and risking the squirrel not vacating the house in a timely manner and tearing the crap out of my home or biting me or one of my pets.

[TheCowsCameHome]

56. Better running loose inside your house than mine. Good luck.

[hollysmom]

48. I was doing the laundry and brought the basket back inthe house when a baby squirrel popped out.

6 weeks to get the damned thing out. I would wake up and find the dog sleeping with the squirrel on its back. One day I woke up and the squirrel was sleeping with me. It survived eating dog food and drinking dog water. One day I opened a drawer of winter clothes and threw them out because I had found the squirrel bathroom. ??? I have no idea how it got there. 4 drawers up and behind a door.

I got a have a heart cage from my neighbors and it took a long time to catch it, it had to gain weight because it could still escape, finally, put a blanket on the floor, wrapped plastic around the cage so it could not squiggle out and ran in the second I heard it click, I put the squirrel out side and the sucker ran up a tree, probably the healthiest squirrel in the yard.

So maybe close off you living room and put peanut butter in a have a heart cage.

[MoonRiver]

54. That's a really sweet story!

I really like the part about the little guy sleeping on your dog's back. Thank you for looking after him!

[hollysmom]

62. trust me, I was not looking after him, I wanted him out

but don't like exterminators - no chemicals in the house that can harm my dog!!! or on the lawn which explains the bare spots. The fact that my dog didn't care drove me nuts. And waking up with a squirrel tail in your nose is not pleasant! - I screamed, he ran. Plus you can not toilet train them, you would be shocked at all the places I found poop, that was one well fed Squirrel.
The dog I have now, oddly enough is one bred for Squirrel hunting, where as the border collie just wanted animals to stay still, this one hunts and kills. I had field mice, and while I admit they are cute for mice, I don't want to live with them, this dog killed them as humanely as possible, she grabbed and shook them and broke their necks and they were dead is seconds. she then set them down in parallel lines. what was really disgusting is how much poop was in the ceiling when we tore it down and re-insulated the house. I since found if I stuck steel wool under the shingles at the base of the house, they would not get in. no mice in, no dead mice. Of course the dog is bored most of the time now, but I am happy to not have anything for her to hunt.

edited to add NOT

[MoonRiver]

64. Well, anyway, I'm glad he made it out OK.

I feed the squirrels in my back yard and have semi-tamed a few of them. One even came running to me once when I called it!

[hollysmom]

65. i know my neighbor trained a squirrel to eat from her hand unfortunately she died before this

with rabies making a resurgence i would be careful - thank you idiot W. Virginia hunting club that wanted more raccoons to hunt and brought infested ones from the west without supervision after rabies was wiped out in the east.

[MoonRiver]

68. I've never touched one, but love to see them frolicking close by.

I have also tamed rabbits in my yard. One routinely ate treats I left right beside my foot. A baby of hers (I think) obviously was watching it's mom and I interacting, because one day it hopped right over to me and pushed it's little nose onto my leg, checking me out!

[Mojorabbit]

79. Here is a photo of one of the youngsters

out of many I have raised over the years. They really are great little guys.

[MoonRiver]

82. AWWWWWW!

I would be so nervous trying to save a baby. But I would do it if I could!

[cherokeeprogressive]

9. Can you smoke him out?

Light a small fire.

[B2G]

10. The flue is closed

I'd just end up smoking myself out.

And I don't see how he would be able to climb back up the chimney. What can he grab on to?

[cherokeeprogressive]

16. They're excellent climbers.

I've seen them climb cinder block walls many times.

Maybe crack the flue a little bit?

[Le Taz Hot]

11. Is he too far down to climb his way out?

If that is the case, as another poster suggested, confine the doggies to another room. I don't know how practical this is for you but somehow you might have to climb on the roof and put something down the chimney that he can use to climb his way out.

[sharp_stick]

12. Good time for a fire?

Just kidding.

I'd put the dogs in another room, block off exits from the room other than one to outside. Open the flue and try to guide it home.

Another option would be to open the flue just enough that the little bugger can fall to the back of the fireplace and try to catch him in a fishing net if you have one. Don't try to grab him, he'll be a bitey little sucker if he's mad and he sounds mad.

You can also use a blanket and when he comes tearing out, drop it on him (before he starts ripping up your house) and swaddle him the hell up. Take the whole blanket outside and help him figure out a way out.

Good Luck.

[B2G]

25. 'Don't try to grab him, he'll be a bitey little sucker'

Thanks. I had planned to cradle him gently in my arms and carry him to saftey.

[sharp_stick]

59. That's what I was afraid of

so I figured you needed a warning.

[NYC_SKP]

13. I would consider calling a chimney sweep.

They might have encountered this and have a solution, ie rope down the chimney for climbing and banging a pot to scare it out.

You have a hole, they can fix that while there and give you an inspection and cleaning.

Or, lock up the dogs, open the door, open the flue, hope to hell it goes out the door and not under the sofa.

Or, try to annoy it with noise or light, or modest heat-- squirrels can climb like crazy, it can probably get out on it's own.

But you'll still have a hole and a chance of a repeat.

Call a sweep, you don't want a repeat.

Good luck.

[flamin lib]

14. chances are he can't climb back out by himself

I had the same situation so I let a rope down the chimney and squirrel happily climbed out.

[Baitball Blogger]

15. Sounds like he's there to stay warm.

[tularetom]

17. Got a screen on your fireplace? The tight fitting type.

Open the flue then close the screen quickly. Then trap him yourself or call animal control.

[B2G]

19. A screen, which now has a very heavy basket in front of it

If that little sucker falls all the way down, he's not getting out.

It would be sort of a squirrelquarium.

[Fla Dem]

73. Put a big, easy to close box under the flue. Then open the flue.

Hopefully he'll fall right into the box and you close it up quick. I'd move the dogs into another room before you do this. Hope it all works out for you and the squirrel.

[B2G]

18. So it looks like I have 2 options

1) drop a rope down the chimney and hope he climbs out
2) open the flue and try to catch him in a fishing net

Neither is happening until tomorrow. Husband is at work until 10 tonight.

Crap.

[Incitatus]

21. Do you have a rope you could drop from the

roof down into the chimney so he will have something to grip and climb out?

[Kali]

24. hope it doesn't get IN the house

they can wreak havoc very quickly. also they have quite sharp teeth. be careful.

edit: didn't read whole thread before posting, I agree 100% with NYC_SKP.

[B2G]

28. If he DOES fall into the fireplace

He's not getting out. Of course I'll be a hysterical wreck.

[Kali]

38. sounds like you have him blocked with the screen.

they are fast and agile, if it can't climb back up and you do have to let him down to the fireplace, I would be very hesitant to use a fishing net.

This actually happened in my father's house this summer, little bastard broke a valuable item of pottery and chewed a Navajo rug, plus some other damages.

I was giving advice from a distance and it wasn't taken in a timely manner. Live animal trap and extermination, combined with exclusion measures.

They tried rat traps at first - don't bother. squirrels are way too strong for a rat trap. and "freeing" them, like all pests is just a fool-yourself exercise that will end in one of three results: it will die anyway, it will become someone else's problem, or in the case of the squirrel this summer - it will return from wherever it was released, even miles away.

[B2G]

26. It sounds like he's trying to bust his way out

With a rasp and a crowbar. Maybe if I put on some soothing music he'll take a nap.

I need a drink.

[Beringia]

29. He is terrified

try to be calm and think of solutions.

[B2G]

32. I am, and none of them are too attractive at the moment

The only thing I can think of that's worse than having a squirrel in my fireplace is climbing up on the roof with a rope.

[Timez Squarez]

35. I agree with you..

The squirrel are amazing jumpers.. you don't need to give much rope... I just hope it's safe enough for you...

[Timez Squarez]

33. I second the rope idea.

I have a friend who has a pet 6 months old baby squirrel, so I could ask her for ideas...

[B2G]

37. I agree, but that's not happening today

Husband is at work until late tonight. Not sending him up on the roof in the dark.

[Timez Squarez]

41. Since you have a secured place - here's another idea..

Since your fireplace screen is on, and technically the squirrel is IN your house and being at the flue section (as in your chimney a part of the house.) animal control should be contacted again.

Where do you live (I'd like to look up the relevant laws)

If they say no, then ask for the supervisor.

[B2G]

42. North Carolina

They told me that in the chimney wasn't in the house.

[marions ghost]

83. OK here's what ya do

--we had this same problem and got advice--try this before going to the trouble of trapping:

Let him out in the room but close it off from other people and pets. DO NOT try to catch a squirrel unless you have heavy gloves and know what you're doing.

Trapped squirrels go towards lighted openings. So if you can make the room as dark as possible and illuminate an exit--(if you have an outside light on at night that works well). But otherwise--think dark vs light. They will run out of a spotlit door or window or opening with light beyond.

Worth a try.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

27. Gopher Vac?

[Historic NY]

30. Duraflame log, .and open your windows...

if it gets warm enough he'll get going. The flu maybe too narrow for him to exit. Try banging on the metal but make sure it does not open.

We have an 18th century house we manage, one time while having a meeting. I watched a squrirel come down the chimney into the room. The folks at the meeting didn't see him, but the house cat did.......hell of a commotion resulted.

[B2G]

34. I can't see how he can climb out nt

[Are_grits_groceries]

40. That is solution is cited as one NOT to do.

A squirrel may not be able to climb out for a variety of factors.

[NutmegYankee]

31. At least he didn't climb into a radon gas removal vent.

When the inline fan motor gets replaced there is usually a collection of bones in the pipe. Ouch.

[Are_grits_groceries]

39. Here is a link to some advice:

http://www.wildlife-removal.com/squirrelchimney.html

3 common idea I saw in several articles:
1-Lower a thick rope into the chimney. This will give the squirrel something to grab and climb. Leave it there for a while.

2- Call a pest control specialist.
They do charge but maybe one would also be willing to give you some advice.

3- Most listed things you should do to prevent this from reoccuring.

There are many articles on Google.

[MadrasT]

43. Oh dear.

I moved here 10 years ago and have never used my fireplace. Now I have visions of opening the flue and dead animals falling into the fireplace.

Oh dear.

Hope the little critter makes it out. The rope-down-the-chimney idea sounds like a winner... too bad you don't have a way to implement that sooner.

I lived in an apartment once where squirrels chewed a giant hole through the dining room wall from the outside. Not sure if they ever came into the apartment, but... "apartment" = "call the landlord and they have to deal with it". They set box traps in the attic, caught and released the critters, and patched my wall. (Different problem so not a solution for your case of course.)

[rdharma]

45. You could call a pest animal removal and control service.

That route won't be cheap.

You could also DIY. Just be careful that whatever method you use will not allow the squirrel to escape in the house. A panicked and scrambling squirrel covered in soot can cause some BIG problems in a house.

I had the same problem as you about a year ago. As soon as I got the little fellow out of there I put a mesh covering over the chimney. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I learned the hard way!

BTW - Do the same with any attic vents that aren't adequately protected.

[B2G]

46. We had a mesh covering

Not sure what happened to it, but once the squirrel is gone, it will be replaced.

If it makes it out of this alive, it would probably try to re-nest.

[Timez Squarez]

49. Believe it or not, they love to chew through anything.

Two damaged screens has often seen squirrels in our kitchen looking for food. My father was attacked by one (no rabies, just scratches on a terrified squrrel) It also played havoc on our alarm system.

You may need to lace them with something that doesn't taste quite as good, like haberno peppers or capascin peppers.. it WILL discourage them if applied once in a while.

[BanzaiBonnie]

50. Don't call the police.

Fiasco episode about a police officer and a squirrel.

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/510/fiasco

[Vox Moi]

57. Best Fiasco ever!

[Liberal_in_LA]

87. i remember that ep. lol

[OregonBlue]

51. Seal off the room. Open a window. Open the flue and run out of the room?

[IdaBriggs]

52. Use yahoo local search "critter control" or

Squirrel pest removal.

Pay them whatever they want. Feed them brownies.

We had a raccoon decide to have babies in our chimney. They got her and the babies out by putting nasty smelling stuff that had her moving out.

Good luck!

[llmart]

58. Do you know how it got in?

I had to have a chimney cap put on my house to keep the critters out. The house didn't have one when I bought it.

[FarCenter]

60. Wait 3 days, then open damper and remove squirrel

[KentuckyWoman]

81. Yeah but you gotta time that just right.

Otherwise you'll have a stinky house full of flys.

[B2G]

89. Turns out...

This turned out to be the best idea on the thread. Worked like a charm!

[Coyotl]

61. Thick rope and he'll climb out.

[hollysmom]

63. the squirrel is probably hungry - you can usually borrow a have a heart cage from animal control

close off the room, put water and peanut butter in a have heart cage - have the cage near/in the fire place, open the flue and let the squirrel get into the cage then put it out.

[MFM008]

66. you will have to put the dogs in a room or something....

then make a trail of nuts or seeds...look around see what you have...a trail to a door like a slightly opened screen door and out to the lawn. Believe me the squirrel wants out.
I used to have an almost tame squirrel i would put nuts out for when i lived on the third floor, one day i forgot, layed down on my bed for a nap...woke up to crunching, the squirrel ate his way though the screen door, grabbed some nuts and was eating them on the foot of my bed.....

[Jesus Malverde]

69. Dogs nuts and Squirrel - dog is not amused...

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=f90_1391832077

[Maeve]

67. when we had a possum in the chimney

We lit incense in the fireplace (irritating, but not harmful) and set a radio to a talk channel (NPR or something not overtly conservative--not trying to drive the FAMILY out!) all night. Next day, she was gone (we were told it was probably a momma building a nest).
And yeah, get a new cap on the chimney.

[Laxman]

70. It Beats Having....

a chipmunk in your pants!

Check out this story if you think a squirrel in your chimney is bad. http://thehammerandthumb.wordpress.com/2013/12/10/does-this-always-happen-here/

[Boom Sound 416]

71. Don't get nuts over it

[grahamhgreen]

72. Pepper spray, fog type.. spray in the air nearby - do not spray him directly!!! or just toss a

bunch of cayenne in his direction....

[whistler162]

74. Don't know that one but hum a few bars for us.

[Lost_Count]

75. Fire...

[bluestate10]

76. If you can find someone that had old fashion thick burlap rope, drop it down

the chimney to the squirrel's level and tie the other end on top of the house. The squirrel will climb out. It probably can't climb out up the chimney wall on it's own. It likely went into the chimney to stay warm and is now trapped.

You may want to call someone at the Fire Department and see what suggestions they have.

[renate]

80. I'll second the hav-a-hart suggestion

A humane trap should be around $35-$40 at a hardware store.

I read on someone's blog that squirrels don't like castor oil so you could try putting it on a towel and then putting it in the fireplace to see whether it drives the squirrel away. But really, I think the humane trap would work faster and better, especially if the squirrel is hungry and extra eager to get to the food inside.

[eppur_se_muova]

84. Is there a Tractor Supply (tractorsupply.com) store in your area ?

I saw a live trap there for $25 -- big enough for a cat (I'm trying to adopt ferals) WITH a second, smaller trap included. The small trap was just right for squirrels.

If there's a cat rescue charity in your area, they might be able to lend you one of the larger traps -- I borrowed one for several days, no cost, from a *friendly* group -- finding the friendly one is the hard part.

[Laxman]

85. And Whatever You Do....

don't call the cops! Here is a squirrel in the fireplace story for the ages!
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/115/first-day?act=2#play

[Faryn Balyncd]

90. Here's what we did when an owl got stuck in our chimney.

He or she was there for several days, and would usually stay above the flue, but sometimes come down into the fireplace and look out through the glass door, and try to get out. But after several days it became apparent that he or she could not climb or fly out of the chimney.

So I built a cage out of wire, placed it in front of the chimney with the glass door opened. Then the owl then came down from the flue and ut of the chimney into the cage. I slid a board between the cage and the chimney to close the cage, took the owl outside and opened it. The owl flew off.

I later related the story to the former owner of the house, who told me that the reason they had placed the glass door in front of the chimney was because a few years earlier an owl had come down the chimney and into the house, and they had had a difficult time getting the owl safely outside, eventually throwing a blanket over it.

I think the walls of the chimney were too slick for the bird to climb out and too restrictive for it to fly straight up.