Help - Raccoons living in my chimney

recruiterg · July 21, 2015

A few people here remind me of The Turtle Man (sorry Worth no comparison intended) so I thought I would see if anyone has any advice on how to get the raccoons out of my chimney permanently. I will install a screen once they're gone. I think there is a momma and kits (babies). They are loud and annoying.

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Cole_Robbie · July 21, 2015

http://www.humanesociety.org/animals...eb_id252329161

From what I read, babies complicate things. If you drive off the mother, and she leaves her young, they will die.

Everything says to not start a fire. I could see a flaming raccoon shooting out into your living room, running around setting everything on fire.

Salsacharley · July 21, 2015

Can you set up a screen and some styrofoam insulation from inside, below them? Perhaps that would reduce the noise until they leave, then you could prepare a permanent barrier from the top.

recruiterg · July 21, 2015

No on the insulation front. They chirp loudly.

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Worth1 · July 21, 2015

Why would I be compared to Turtle Man.

Worth

rjake100 · July 21, 2015

I would do a search for racoon exclusion. I had an issue with bats one time and the guy that helped me get rid of the problem called it exclusion. You need to install some sort of one way door that lets the racoons out but doesn't let them back in.

**carolyn137** · July 21, 2015

Your chimney is connected to what at the base?

And I ask b/c of a situation here last summer. In my LV/DR there is a huge inside 30ft stone chimney connected to a wood stove, which I haven't used in years, it was the ultimate backup for heat and as I sat in my recliner chair I went crazy listening to scraping noises,

Freda disconnected the curved flue from the woodstove to the chimney and saw nothing and the noise continued. So I called a chimey man, you know, cleans point up stuff, whatever.

He had his assistant with him, and they found a squirrel in there and then came the fun since the squirrel got out in the LV and the chase started.

They were to come back and put up mesh screen around it on the roof, wouldn't take a penny, said the flue was clean and I could pay them when they put up the screen,

They didn't come back last year I have their phone number and I'm glad you posted about this b'c I must call them b'c I feel a bit guilty about not paying anything.

But WHAT kind of chimney would have room for raccoons is my question.

Carolyn

Cole_Robbie · July 21, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjake100

I would do a search for racoon exclusion. I had an issue with bats one time and the guy that helped me get rid of the problem called it exclusion. You need to install some sort of one way door that lets the racoons out but doesn't let them back in.

That works as long as the young ones are big enough to find their own way out. If they are too young, they'll die when the mother can't get back to them. And that would stink...literally.

JamesL · July 21, 2015

I have a lot of real world experience with this issue. We raised a set from babies, and placed 2 other sets in a home, all in different years.
Have assisted in one successful chimney removal, and one of the baby sets came from a failed trapping of the mother.
None were ever in one of my chimneys fortunately.
Can you place an approximate time on their birth?

3 real choices:
1. If you can wait until the fall, they will be gone of their own accord once they get large enough to climb out with Mom.

2. You can try to catch the Mom outside with a Have A Heart or some other trap.

3. You can try to extricate them but this generally ends in Mom's death and then you have babies to raise.

Their nest is more likely than not sitting right above the flue. If you open the flue, sometimes they come rolling out - with a very angry Momma behind that you will have to deal with - generally leaving you with the orphans.
If the babies are already getting large they could come out fighting too. (Hence the age question)

Unsuccessful - Had a guy that trapped the Momma, or so he thought, and then opened the flue. He had caught a different raccoon and had to dispatch Mom.

If you catch the Mom outside and are sure it's her, you can open the flue, remove the babies, give them a bath and a bottle and reunite them with Mom outside - AFTER you screen the chimney!!!

PS - For those wondering why you end up having to kill the mother - I haven't personally faced off with an angry Momma Coon in the living room, but I am told it is not a very pleasant experience.

Worth1 · July 21, 2015

I think it would be best to just put up with them until they are gone.
I have been around mad mother coons.

Worth

rhines81 · July 21, 2015

Load the hearth up with a big ice chest full of dry ice, open the flu vent and seal off the hearth with plastic. Mom will sense the danger and get babies out. If they don't leave then they will suffocate most likely, but at least they have a chance to leave instead. Use gloves when working with dry ice and avoid contact with skin.

MissS · July 21, 2015

I too have had raised numerous litters of baby raccoon's (about 15 to 20 litters) that were found living in chimneys. My brother in-law was a fireman and often people would call the fire dept. to inquire as how to remove them. He would come and remove the babies and would bring them home for us to raise. The very best solution is to allow them to grow and move out on their own. It is now lat July and the babies should be leaving in the next few weeks. They are already far too big to tame and raise by hand, usually we would remove them in the first 3 weeks of being born and then we had great success in raising them by hand. By now they are already quite well grown and will fight being captured and feel a great deal of stress being put into captivity.

Mom will be taking them out on excursions at night to teach them how to forage for themselves. If you stay up and watch for them to leave you could then place a HEAVY screen or bars so that they can not access your chimney.

JamesL · July 21, 2015

Patti,
That's a lot of babies!

Think about how many "great grandkids" you have running around in the woods.

MissS · July 22, 2015

James, there were a lot of them. Some years we would have 4-5 litters between us. My brother in-law would put out big bowls of dog food every night for all of the wild critters. You would see 10 raccoon's, fox and skunk come in for dinner.

A few times I would have some old friends return and stay for a few days. I figured that they were sick and came home to recuperate. I would just leave out some food and talk gently to them while they stayed with me.

Many of these I had to take pretty far away to release. They would try to live in neighbors garages and attics so they had to be removed to a less populated area. I always hoped that they were far enough away from their neighbors.

One young male that I really bonded with "Andy" had to be released 30 miles away. In three days he was back home. I could not believe it. We then took him about 50 miles away. I still miss that one.

AlittleSalt · July 22, 2015

Call a Chimney Sweep. They will come out and remove whatever is blocking your chimney. It might cost a lot though.

July 21, 2015	#1
recruiterg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Edina, MN (Zone 4) Posts: 945	Help - Raccoons living in my chimney A few people here remind me of The Turtle Man (sorry Worth no comparison intended) so I thought I would see if anyone has any advice on how to get the raccoons out of my chimney permanently. I will install a screen once they're gone. I think there is a momma and kits (babies). They are loud and annoying. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

July 21, 2015	#7
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	Your chimney is connected to what at the base? And I ask b/c of a situation here last summer. In my LV/DR there is a huge inside 30ft stone chimney connected to a wood stove, which I haven't used in years, it was the ultimate backup for heat and as I sat in my recliner chair I went crazy listening to scraping noises, Freda disconnected the curved flue from the woodstove to the chimney and saw nothing and the noise continued. So I called a chimey man, you know, cleans point up stuff, whatever. He had his assistant with him, and they found a squirrel in there and then came the fun since the squirrel got out in the LV and the chase started. They were to come back and put up mesh screen around it on the roof, wouldn't take a penny, said the flue was clean and I could pay them when they put up the screen, They didn't come back last year I have their phone number and I'm glad you posted about this b'c I must call them b'c I feel a bit guilty about not paying anything. But WHAT kind of chimney would have room for raccoons is my question. Carolyn __________________ Carolyn

July 21, 2015	#12
MissS Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 3,149	I too have had raised numerous litters of baby raccoon's (about 15 to 20 litters) that were found living in chimneys. My brother in-law was a fireman and often people would call the fire dept. to inquire as how to remove them. He would come and remove the babies and would bring them home for us to raise. The very best solution is to allow them to grow and move out on their own. It is now lat July and the babies should be leaving in the next few weeks. They are already far too big to tame and raise by hand, usually we would remove them in the first 3 weeks of being born and then we had great success in raising them by hand. By now they are already quite well grown and will fight being captured and feel a great deal of stress being put into captivity. Mom will be taking them out on excursions at night to teach them how to forage for themselves. If you stay up and watch for them to leave you could then place a HEAVY screen or bars so that they can not access your chimney. __________________ ~ Patti ~

July 22, 2015	#14
MissS Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 3,149	James, there were a lot of them. Some years we would have 4-5 litters between us. My brother in-law would put out big bowls of dog food every night for all of the wild critters. You would see 10 raccoon's, fox and skunk come in for dinner. A few times I would have some old friends return and stay for a few days. I figured that they were sick and came home to recuperate. I would just leave out some food and talk gently to them while they stayed with me. Many of these I had to take pretty far away to release. They would try to live in neighbors garages and attics so they had to be removed to a less populated area. I always hoped that they were far enough away from their neighbors. One young male that I really bonded with "Andy" had to be released 30 miles away. In three days he was back home. I could not believe it. We then took him about 50 miles away. I still miss that one. __________________ ~ Patti ~

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July 21, 2015	#2
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	http://www.humanesociety.org/animals...eb_id252329161 From what I read, babies complicate things. If you drive off the mother, and she leaves her young, they will die. Everything says to not start a fire. I could see a flaming raccoon shooting out into your living room, running around setting everything on fire.

July 21, 2015	#3
Salsacharley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: New Mexico Posts: 2,052	Can you set up a screen and some styrofoam insulation from inside, below them? Perhaps that would reduce the noise until they leave, then you could prepare a permanent barrier from the top.

July 21, 2015	#5
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Why would I be compared to Turtle Man. Worth

July 21, 2015	#6
rjake100 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Low Country SC Posts: 37	I would do a search for racoon exclusion. I had an issue with bats one time and the guy that helped me get rid of the problem called it exclusion. You need to install some sort of one way door that lets the racoons out but doesn't let them back in.

July 21, 2015	#9
JamesL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 1,992	I have a lot of real world experience with this issue. We raised a set from babies, and placed 2 other sets in a home, all in different years. Have assisted in one successful chimney removal, and one of the baby sets came from a failed trapping of the mother. None were ever in one of my chimneys fortunately. Can you place an approximate time on their birth? 3 real choices: 1. If you can wait until the fall, they will be gone of their own accord once they get large enough to climb out with Mom. 2. You can try to catch the Mom outside with a Have A Heart or some other trap. 3. You can try to extricate them but this generally ends in Mom's death and then you have babies to raise. Their nest is more likely than not sitting right above the flue. If you open the flue, sometimes they come rolling out - with a very angry Momma behind that you will have to deal with - generally leaving you with the orphans. If the babies are already getting large they could come out fighting too. (Hence the age question) Unsuccessful - Had a guy that trapped the Momma, or so he thought, and then opened the flue. He had caught a different raccoon and had to dispatch Mom. If you catch the Mom outside and are sure it's her, you can open the flue, remove the babies, give them a bath and a bottle and reunite them with Mom outside - AFTER you screen the chimney!!! PS - For those wondering why you end up having to kill the mother - I haven't personally faced off with an angry Momma Coon in the living room, but I am told it is not a very pleasant experience.

July 21, 2015	#11
rhines81 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Zone 5A, Poconos Posts: 959	Load the hearth up with a big ice chest full of dry ice, open the flu vent and seal off the hearth with plastic. Mom will sense the danger and get babies out. If they don't leave then they will suffocate most likely, but at least they have a chance to leave instead. Use gloves when working with dry ice and avoid contact with skin.

July 21, 2015	#13
JamesL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 1,992	Patti, That's a lot of babies! Think about how many "great grandkids" you have running around in the woods.

July 22, 2015	#15
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	Call a Chimney Sweep. They will come out and remove whatever is blocking your chimney. It might cost a lot though.