Scratching, chirping, or rustling coming from the fireplace? You’ve got a visitor. Here’s how to get birds and animals out of your chimney safely — and, just as important, how to keep them from coming back.
Why animals get into chimneys
An uncapped flue looks like a hollow tree to wildlife — a warm, sheltered place to nest. The most common guests are birds (including protected chimney swifts), squirrels, and raccoons, especially in nesting season.
What NOT to do
- Never light a fire to force an animal out — it’s inhumane and can start a chimney fire or fill your home with smoke
- Don’t drop poison or objects down the flue
- Don’t reach in blindly — frightened animals bite and scratch
How to get them out safely
For a bird that can fly, opening the damper and closing off the room, then leaving a window open and the lights off, sometimes lets it find its way toward daylight and out the top. For squirrels or raccoons — or if a nest is involved — the safe move is to call a professional. A chimney sweep or wildlife specialist can remove the animal and any nesting material without harm to you or the animal.
A special note on chimney swifts
Chimney swifts are a federally protected migratory bird. If swifts have nested in your flue, it’s illegal to remove them until the young have fledged. The right approach is to wait them out, then cap the chimney afterward.
How to keep animals out for good
Once the flue is clear, the permanent fix is simple: a properly fitted stainless-steel chimney cap with mesh sides. It keeps birds, squirrels and raccoons out while still letting your chimney draft properly — and it blocks rain and debris at the same time.
Keep animals out for good
A properly fitted chimney cap is the permanent solution to animals in the flue.