This is weird.... I have an old house (built in 1931) and it has a big fireplace in the living room that's been converted to natural gas. The big brick chimney has always been a little frustrating... 10 years ago when I replaced the roof on the house, one of the guys helping me dropped a hammer down the chimney. That's when I learned some stuff about it I don't like... You can't see all the way down the chimney from the top, there is a jog in it. So I tried to retrieve the hammer by reaching up through the flu in the fireplace, that's when I discovered there is a huge shelf up in there that's covered with leaves and debri. I never did get the hammer out of there, I just couldn't reach far enough in.

So today I'm hearing rustling sounds from that shelf in the chimney!!!! I tried to smoke whatever it is out by lighting the fire, but the shelf is so big and the brick work so massive that it just sat back and waited, probably didn't even get warm...

Anybody know anything about chimneys and/or varmints living in them????

I WANT IT GONE, DEAD OR ALIVE!!!

help.

Call Mitt Romney at 1-800-IHATESDEMVARMITS.



Sorry, I don't know but I hope someone here does!

It's most likely a squirrel, bird, or raccoon that's gotten stuck in there. Call your local animal control department & see if they will help with it. If not call a Chimney Sweep or a Pest Control company.

I opened the flu and it's been kicking out leaves... I'm sitting here with my pellet gun and the meanest of my 3 cats.... Maybe it'll come down.

Better check your state laws... it seriously could be illegal to kill it depending on what it is. You need to make a call to animal control.

Thanks Melody... ;-)

The crisis is over and nothing died. It was a Stellar's Jay. And it did come out and fly around my living room (and get slightly mauled by the cat) before I was able to shush it out the front door.... I bet that's the last time it'll fly down a chimney....

It's not a proper old chimney if there is nothing nesting in it!!

Good job on "outsourcing" the job to your cats! I have had the same problem with squirrels. You have to put a mesh cage over the chimney. Hopefully the squirrels wont pull it out like they do in mine every 2 years!

Good idea Jason! I was trying to think of a way to keep stuff, both debri and critters out of there.

Ya, I couldn't live here without cats, the mice would invade. If you met my 3 cats you'd think Isaac was the 'softest' of the 3. He's slightly overweight and the color of a creamsicle, but in reality he's a vicious killer, if I hadn't intervened that bird would be history. It bounced off the window trying to escape and he hit it mid air wrapping all four legs around it and bringing it down.... I like the wild kingdom and all, but I prefer it not be in my living room. ;-)

Hope all is well with that cute baby!

~Bill

Thanks Bill - ALL is GOOD! Good to hear from you!

Bill - So glad all is well. Thank you for the good laugh. The pellet gun, bird flying, cats...ahhhhh. Your own version of John Candy and "The Great Outdoors"!!!

I just saw your post and can relate. Our chimney's over a hundred years older than your's...built in 1820. When we moved in we had the chimney sweeps come out and you wouldn't believe all the stuff that was inside it. We have a tree growing out the top, too!

We also have a woodstove, and 3 times this year I've had to set a Starling free, dumb birds. I don't have cats but it gets the dog pretty worked up. The birds just don't seem to learn, so you're definitely going to want to have some sort of cap put on the top of the chimney!