Spring has sprung. The air is warm, the snow is gone and your chimney is being used less by you. It’s being used, however, by others for a different purpose.
The warmer seasons provide a perfect opportunity for pests – birds, squirrels, raccoons, etc. – to take refuge in your chimney. At
Guardian Chimney, the chimney cleaning and
masonry repair experts for
New York and
New Jersey, these are the pests whose nests we encounter most often (note: Guardian Chimney does not offer pest removal service. You should contact an animal control expert to have the birds or rodents removed):
· Chimney Swift – Chimney swifts are grey birds that breed May through July. Their chosen habitat is open structures, like open chimneys. Chimney swifts are a near threatened bird species, and therefore are protected by the Migratory Bird Act of 1918. What this means is that if chimney swifts have taken residence in your chimney, they can only be removed with proper permits.
· Squirrels – These rodents are amazing climbers and can crawl into anything, especially open chimneys. Once down inside the
chimney flue, squirrels make shelter and nests inside your chimney.
· Rats – If you’re hearing scraping sounds from inside your chimney, then you might have a rat problem. Like squirrels, rats will make your chimney their home, building a nest and raising their rat families in your masonry’s secure confines.
· Raccoons – For squirrels and raccoons, a chimney is no different than a big hollow tree. Raccoons love chimneys because they are safe and dry, a perfect living environment. Once they’ve established a nest, they will likely begin to have a litter.
· Bats – Hearing twittering and rustling from inside the masonry, especially at night? Then you might have a bat problem. Bats love to take shelter in chimneys, especially those that have pulled away from the house. An easy way to tell if these creatures of the night have entered your chimney is to see if there is subtle dark staining around openings. These marks are caused by oils in the bats’ fur.
How do you prevent pests from entering your chimney? The best way is a custom-made
chimney cap from Guardian Chimney. Our stainless steel, galvanized or copper tops will not only prevent rodents and other pests from entering your chimney, but it also will reduce the amount of leaves and other debris that can enter the chimney’s top.
Call Guardian Chimney today at 1.888.688.1388 or visit
www.GuardianChimney.com today to learn how
chimney caps can prevent a total obstruction of your chimney. You can also contact us today to schedule a
chimney cleaning if you’ve recently eradicated your pest problem.
