What to Do When a Bird or Squirrel Gets In Your Chimney

Gardeners go out of their way to entice birds into their properties — and for several good reasons.

Some species of birds aid in flower pollination while others help keep weeds at bay. For some people, the sight and sound of birds can be relaxing, especially during a sunny morning.

Squirrels, on the other hand, can provide comic relief with their silly antics.

But that’s where you want these creatures to be — in your garden. Definitely, not inside your home.

But sometimes, the curiosity of these creatures can lead them indoors, causing a ruckus inside your house.

Here’s what to do when a bird or squirrel gets in your chimney.

Containment

The first thing that you need to do is to contain the creature in the area where it is trapped. The last thing that you would want to do is to allow it to go around different areas of your home out of fear.

If you are dealing with a squirrel and it is trapped in the fireplace, you will need to contain it in that area before you can proceed with the next steps.

If your fireplace has doors, close them first. Alternatively, you can use bed sheets to secure the fireplace.

If you are dealing with a bird, you can also follow the aforementioned steps.

Releasing your uninvited guest

If the squirrel is trapped in the chimney, you can entice it to go up and out by throwing a thick rope. If there is no thick rope in your home, you can tie up a few bed sheets together. The squirrel can then climb up using the rope or bed sheets on its own when it senses that it is no longer under threat.

On the other hand, if the creature is trapped in the fireplace, you will need to trap it using peanut butter as bait. Make sure that the area near the fireplace has been secured before putting in the baited trap inside the fireplace.

It is also a good idea to create some form of tunnel system that will guide the squirrel into an open door should it choose to bolt out of the fireplace instead of going into the trap. A few strategically tipped chairs and/or tables will often do.

If a bird got into your fireplace, you will need to use a piece of cloth to cover it to help it calm down before being caught and released.

Now, this can be tricky as the bird can fly into different parts of your home. The important thing to do here is to stretch out a bed sheet that can guide the bird into an open door or window. You may need the help of your family and friends for this. If the bird manages to fly out of the fireplace, you can use the bed sheets to guide the bird out.

To learn more about how to control pests in your home or business, be sure to contact your local Modesto pest control company.