Raccoons Are Living in My Chimney

Raccoons have five to 10 black rings around their tails.

Raccoons are becoming more comfortable around people. As this occurs, raccoons form more and more dens in urban areas, including barns, buildings and chimneys. Raccoons can cause damage to your home, such as tearing off shingles and chewing holes in insulation. Moreover, they present several health risks to humans. If raccoons are living in your chimney, you will want to take steps to get rid of them and prevent them from returning.

Description

Raccoons are generally 2 to 3 feet in length and weigh between 10 and 30 pounds. Their most distinct feature is the black band that surrounds their eyes and resembles a mask. Raccoons are most common on the East Coast, but they are found throughout the United States. Raccoons eat a wide variety of foods, including fruit and corn, and thus raccoon populations are often higher in urban areas than rural areas.

Removal

There are several ways to remove a raccoon from your chimney. Scare tactics, including bright lights, radios and other loud noises, may effectively scare the raccoon out of your chimney. Do not set a fire. Raccoons will generally not exit the chimney, but will instead climb into the fireplace in an effort to escape the fire. If scare tactics are not effective, purchase a "chimney trap," available at most home supply and animal control stores, and place it at the top of the chimney. Alternatively, you can place a regular raccoon trap at the base of the fireplace.

Prevention

Prevent raccoons from entering your chimney by placing a chimney cap, a sheet of metal and heavy screen, over the top of your chimney. Chimney caps are available at most home supply stores. Make sure the chimney cap is tightly secured. In addition, prune any tree branches hanging over your roof, and attach sheets of slick metal at the corners of your home. These measures will help prevent raccoons from gaining access to your chimney.

Warnings

Raccoons can spread several serious diseases to humans, including rabies and roundworm. Moreover, raccoons can scratch and bite humans. Be extremely careful when attempting to get rid of a raccoon in your chimney. If you do not feel comfortable removing the raccoon on your own, consider contacting an animal control professional. Additionally, keep in mind that laws concerning the trapping of raccoons vary from state to state. Always contact your state wildlife agency before attempting to trap a raccoon.

References

• Ohio State University: Preventing and Managing Raccoon Problems
• Raccoons in the Attic: Raccons in the Chimney - Guide to Safe Removal
• Cornell Cooperative Extension: Raccoons

Resources

• Wyoming Game and Fish Department: State Agencies