A raccoon in the chimney is one of those problems you want handled right the first time. You can’t just light a fire and smoke it out. That kills the animal and leaves you with a rotting raccoon in your flue. Here’s how to get it out without hurting it, and how to keep the next one out. For more, see Raccoon in the Attic: Signs, Removal, and Prevention Guide.
First, confirm it’s a raccoon
Not every noise in the chimney is a raccoon. It could be a squirrel or a bird. A raccoon is heavy, so you’ll hear loud thumping and scratching, mostly at night. Listen for chattering, hissing, or growling. Look for big tubular droppings on the roof and paw prints around the chimney.
Safety first
Do not light a fire or use smoke to drive it out. A trapped raccoon can’t climb out through smoke, and a dead one in the flue is a whole separate problem. Your whole goal is to give the animal an escape route.
The steps
- Listen at the fireplace. Crack the damper and listen. If the raccoon is down in the firebox, close the damper and call a pro. If it’s above the damper, keep going.
- Check the chimney from the roof. A missing or damaged cap is usually how they got in. Use a ladder carefully.
- Lower a knotted rope. Tie knots every foot or so and lower it from the top. A raccoon can climb it and get out on its own.
- Play a talk radio station near the fireplace. The unfamiliar noise makes the space feel unsafe.
- Shine a bright light up the flue. Raccoons like dark, quiet spots. A work light makes it uncomfortable.
- Have a one-way door installed if the raccoon won’t leave. It can get out but not back in. Leave it up for a week.
- Check for babies. Listen for high-pitched squeaks. Raccoons have young in spring and summer. If there are babies, don’t rush it, or call a rehabber.
- Confirm it’s gone. Listen for a couple of quiet nights. A little flour sprinkled at the base will show fresh tracks.
- Cap the chimney. A steel cap with fine mesh is the only thing that permanently keeps raccoons out.
- Clean up. Raccoon droppings can carry disease, so wear gloves and a mask, or hire someone for the cleanup.
What it costs
Prices vary a lot by where you live and how bad the situation is. A chimney cap with mesh is a modest outlay. Professional removal and capping costs more, and emergency calls cost more still. Get a couple of quotes if you’re hiring someone.
Frequently Asked Questions
A few days at most, and less in hot weather. If it’s been stuck, don’t wait. Get it out or call someone.
Out of old rough brick or clay flues, yes. Out of a smooth steel liner, probably not. If it’s been in there more than a few hours, it likely needs a hand.
It can scratch the liner, knock soot loose, and damage the damper or cap. A dead raccoon blocking the flue is a bigger risk.
Never. It’s inhumane, and a dead raccoon in the chimney creates an odor problem that’s worse than the animal itself.
If there are babies, if it’s been stuck, or if you’re not comfortable on the roof, yes. Otherwise a rope and a little patience often do it.
