Raccoons
Raccoons and their young are removed from the smoke shelf and flue without harming the kits.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Animal Removal Mifflinburg, PA
A chimney sweep in Mifflinburg can remove birds, raccoons, squirrels and nests from your chimney safely and with the right timing for the animal, then cap the top. Call (570) 816-1022 to reach a local chimney sweep.
Without a cap, a chimney is an open invitation to wildlife. Raccoons often use the smoke shelf as a nursery, birds nest inside the flue and squirrels fall in and get trapped. Each one brings nesting material that blocks the flue, droppings that smell and the risk of the animal getting into the house.
Lighting a fire to drive an animal out is a bad idea. It can kill young animals that cannot leave, set the nest on fire and fill the house with smoke. Shut the damper and doors to keep the animal from coming into the house.
The type of animal decides how and when it can be removed. Chimney swifts are a protected migratory bird, so their nests can only be removed after nesting season, and a sweep will advise on timing. Rules on trapping and relocating wildlife vary by state, so the method follows what is allowed in Pennsylvania. Once the chimney is clear, a cap with a mesh screen keeps them from coming back.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, a Mifflinburg chimney sweep may also recommend chimney cap installation or chimney cleaning.
Looking for Mifflinburg chimney animal removal? Call (570) 816-1022 and describe the problem to a chimney sweep who works in Mifflinburg.
Call nowThe process
The chimney animal removal process
Here is how a sweep typically handles an animal in the chimney.
Identify the animal
A camera or light and the signs you describe show whether it is birds, a raccoon or something else since each one is handled differently.
Set the approach
If chimney swifts are nesting, the sweep will advise on when the nest can come out before any work begins.
Humane removal
The animal is removed using the method suited to it while keeping it out of the house.
Remove debris
Nesting material is pulled out, since it can block the flue and catch fire and the area is cleaned up.
Deodorize
Where animals have nested, the area is cleaned to remove odor and parasites since droppings can carry disease.
Add a cap
A chimney cap with a mesh screen goes on the flue so animals cannot return to finish the job.
What is included
Common chimney animal problems
Squirrels
Small animals stuck in the flue or on the damper are removed since they cannot climb back out.
Birds
Starlings, swifts and other birds and their nests are removed with timing that respects nesting season and the flue is capped afterward.
Bat exclusion
Bats in a chimney are handled with exclusion devices that let them leave but not return since rules often protect them.
Dead animal removal
Dead animals are removed and the area cleaned and deodorized to clear the smell.
Related service
Bird Nest Removal Mifflinburg, PA
Birds nest in chimneys because the inside of a flue is dry, sheltered and hard for predators to reach. The sticks and grass in a nest can block the flue and ignite when a fire is lit. In furnace or water heater flues, a nest can cause carbon monoxide to spill indoors, so working CO alarms matter.
Chimney swifts are a protected migratory bird, so their nests can only be removed after nesting season, once the birds have left. The sweep will advise on when removal can happen, and then the nest is cleared and a cap goes on. Other birds follow different rules, and the sweep can tell you which apply.
Related service
Raccoon Removal Mifflinburg, PA
Raccoons are strong climbers, and a mother raccoon will often choose a chimney smoke shelf as a den to raise her kits in spring. Noises at dusk and dawn and the sound of young calling are typical. Raccoons can carry rabies and their droppings can carry roundworm, so never reach into the flue or try to handle one.
Removal often means taking out the kits so the mother can carry them off, or using a one-way exit once the den is empty. Wildlife rules in Pennsylvania can limit trapping and relocation, which shapes how the removal is done. Then the area is sanitized and a strong cap is fastened down to keep the next raccoon out.
Local help
Chimney Animal Removal Near Me
Chimneys in Mifflinburg see the most animal activity in spring and early summer, when birds nest and raccoons raise their young. Around Mifflinburg and in nearby towns like Lewisburg, Winfield, Milton and Selinsgrove, uncapped chimneys and branches that overhang the roof are the most common way animals get in. A properly fitted cap prevents most of these problems.
For chimney animal removal in Mifflinburg, PA or nearby towns like Lewisburg, Winfield, Milton and Selinsgrove, call (570) 816-1022 to reach a chimney sweep who covers your street.
Chimneys in this climate
Cold winters keep fireplaces, wood stoves and oil burners working for half the year or more. The hardest thing on brick here is not the cold itself but the constant swing above and below freezing: water soaks into brick, mortar joints and the crown on a mild day, freezes overnight and expands, which is how cracks, loose bricks and leaks start. Nor'easters drive rain sideways into flashing and mortar that looked fine in summer. Most homeowners in Mifflinburg, PA schedule a sweep in early fall, and a repair check after a hard winter.
Why call
Why not wait
Smaller repairs
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Familiar with local homes
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across Mifflinburg and nearby towns.
Know what happens next
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Chimney Animal Removal FAQ
How do I keep animals out of my chimney?
Capping the flue with a mesh-sided cap stops most animals. It should be fastened well enough that a raccoon cannot pull it off, with mesh small enough to stop birds without clogging with creosote. Keeping branches off the roof removes an easy path to the top.
Can I light a fire to get an animal out of my chimney?
Smoke is not a safe way to get an animal out of a chimney. It can kill young animals, start a nest fire and push smoke and carbon monoxide indoors. Close the damper, keep pets away and have the animal removed safely.
Why are animals in the chimney a problem?
Animals in a chimney cause problems beyond the noise. Nests can block the flue and catch fire, droppings can carry disease, and raccoons can carry rabies and roundworm. If the chimney vents a gas appliance, a blockage can cause carbon monoxide to back up, which makes working CO alarms important.
What should I do about a dead animal smell in the fireplace?
The smell of decay in a chimney nearly always means an animal has died inside. Removing the animal and cleaning the smoke shelf is the only real fix. Keep the damper closed until then to keep the smell out of the room.
What should I do about chimney swifts?
Chimney swifts are a protected migratory bird, so the birds and their active nest have to stay until nesting season is over. Once they migrate, a sweep can clear the nest and cap the chimney so they do not return. Until then, keep the damper closed and do not use the fireplace.
More questions? Call (570) 816-1022
Other services that may help
Chimney Cap Installation
Installing chimney caps with mesh sides to keep out rain, animals, leaves and stray sparks.
Learn moreChimney Cleaning
Brushing and vacuuming the buildup from fireplace and stove chimneys of every kind, so the flue drafts well and burns safely.
Learn moreChimney Odor Removal
Removing chimney odors at the source instead of covering them up whether the smell shows up in summer heat or after rain.
Learn moreChimney Damper Repair
Fixing stuck, rusted or warped chimney dampers including handles, chains and seals.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
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Call (570) 816-1022 for a local chimney sweep in Mifflinburg and nearby towns.
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