Yep, it's either squirrels or racoons ... indeed, HAD babies!
This is the time of year, and my suggestion would be to call a professional to have them safely and humanely removed to a secure and more natural setting!
Please.
Please keep us posted, and all the best!
-Jeff
PS. Do NOT attempt anything on your own ... racoons, in particular, are VICIOUS creatures when it comes to protecting their young 'ums. Truly.
Sounds more like birds to me at this time of year, it's getting towards summer so you won't need to use your chimney so i wouldn't worry about it.
Let them nest (they will have nested), breed and get out of there on their own, they'll be gone in a few months. The only problem is birds tend to reappear the next year, so you may wish to put some type of grate on the top of the chimney in preparation for that (after they've gone obviously).
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They're chimney sweeps and are fairly common. We had this happen to us. They won't hurt anything, but this winter after they move on it'd be worth it to stick a small screen over the top of the chimney if they bother you.
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I do have 3 chimneys in my house. And quite often I get birds nesting in them. Better yet they get stuck or something and they fall down. quite often having to pick up their carcass off the floor when "they have fallen and couldnt get up".
If you have a screen or glass in front of it, I would look and see what it is. Then you call someone if you need to. If it is birds, make sure to get your chimney cleaned before you use it next. I have heard stories about nest creating problems in chimneys and then houses going up in flames.
I live in and am restoring a house built in the 1840's.
It has 5 chimneys, 9 fireplaces. Been interesting to say the least.
All chimneys are now capped to help eliminate these issues.
Here is what we have encountered over the years.
Bats...thats alway fun, especially when they get in the house. Three of them over the years. Some great hillarious adventures here but way too long to go into.
Had a company come and remove them. Actually, the removed themselves at night and then all access and entries were sealed. Very interesting and learned a tremendous amount about bats from this firm.
There appeared to be a nursery in our attic of perhaps 60-80 adults and youngsters.
Birds...Starlings, Chimney Sweeps, and Carolina (Jenny) Wrens are most common. Wrens will built a nest in anything. It does not matter where it is. Had an old boot out in the yard. Had to leave it until the babies flew away.
Mice...well, don't like having them but will tolerate them and won't put out poison for the next reason.
Flying Squirrels...First time I saw one I nearly died of a heart attack! I thought it was a rat jumping out at me. Fascinating little critters. Cute as can be. Nocturnal, very clumsy on the ground or not in trees. I know many who have had them as pets but that is not my thing. We have had large colonies.
Currently, in spite of our best efforts to seal all access, they may be back in the attic. I hear things running occasionally. Or it may be a member of the Confedate Army who was beheaded on the property and up in the attic looking for his head. Keeps stumbling around trying to find the damn thing.
Anyways, if it is fluttering, it is most likely birds nesting this time of year.
Last edited by circa1850 : 04-15-2007 at 08:42 PM.
