squirrels in fireplace

carnation · #1 03-15-2009, 09:52 AM

Has anyone had squirrels nest in your fireplace?

We must have one doing that. A couple of weeks ago, there was a squirrel staring at us from the other side of our glassed in fireplace and the dogs went for it and it went up the chimney and we assumed that was that. We came in from Atlanta yesterday and there was an awful smell in the room. When we sniff behind the glass doors, it does seem to be coming from there.

The chimney sweep can't come for 1 or 2 days. Agghhh! Does anyone have tips on dealing with the smell (dead squirrel or nest, we have no idea) or keeping squirrels out?

(Yes, AGDs, we will be humane, we'll call over our next-door Alpha Gam neighbor and have her supervise the sweeps.)

AGDee · #2 03-15-2009, 04:15 PM

I have a chimney cover to keep birds out and presume it's keeping the squirrels out too. Whatever you do, don't start a fire!

libramunoz · #3 03-15-2009, 08:35 PM

Get a mesh screen chimney cover for your fireplace. For the smell, put cups of vingear around the area to help "soak up" the smell. It does the same for skunks.

Kevin · #4 03-16-2009, 09:43 AM

Have you ever thought to just use the fireplace? Shouldn't that get rid of 'em?

carnation · #5 03-16-2009, 08:18 PM

Update: gag. The smell continued and the chimney sweep couldn't get to us for a few days. My husband thought he had totally cleaned out the fireplace but I couldn't believe it and I got back into it. Behind a log I saw a rigid squirrel tail...uh oh. I removed the ex-squirrel and my husband buried it.

We do have a screen over the chimney but recent winds must have knocked it aside; anyway, we plan to have the chimney sweep secure it when he comes! For now...we've got a lot of vinegar in the fireplace. Eurrgghhh.

honeychile · #6 03-16-2009, 08:38 PM

Look at the bright side - it could have been a skunk!

libramunoz · #7 03-16-2009, 08:46 PM

put the vinegar in cups/bowls around the area--that will help in clearing out the smell around the fireplace.

libramunoz · #8 03-16-2009, 08:47 PM

until your chimney sweeper gets to your home, make sure to keep the flue of the chimney closed to help prevent other critters from coming back in the house. Keep it closed by taking a log and blocking it against the flue.