Raccoon in Chimney Removal in Louisville, KY
Chirping or scratching in the fireplace? It's almost always a mother raccoon with babies on your smoke shelf. We remove them safely, clean the flue, and cap the chimney for good.
Signs There's a Raccoon in Your Chimney
Our Chimney Raccoon Removal Process
1. Flue Inspection
We inspect the flue with lights and cameras to confirm a raccoon (usually a mother on the smoke shelf) and check for babies — never assume the chimney is empty.
2. Safe Removal
Depending on the situation we remove babies by hand from the smoke shelf, use a chimney-specific trap at the flue top, or install a one-way door so the raccoon exits and cannot return.
3. Flue Cleanout
We remove nesting material, droppings, and debris — a nesting-material blockage is a serious carbon monoxide and chimney-fire hazard if you use your fireplace.
4. Chimney Cap Installation
We install a heavy-gauge steel chimney cap so this never happens again. An uncapped flue is essentially a hollow tree — the exact den raccoons evolved to use.
Never Do These With a Raccoon in the Chimney
- Never light a fire or smoke them out — animals die in the flue and nesting material can ignite
- Never open the damper to "let it out" — you'll release a panicked raccoon into your living room
- Never pour anything down the flue (ammonia, repellents) — it doesn't work and contaminates your fireplace
- Never cap the chimney before removal is confirmed — sealing animals inside creates a dead-animal problem
Raccoon in Chimney — Frequently Asked Questions
Why do raccoons get into chimneys?
To a female raccoon, an uncapped chimney is a perfect substitute for a hollow tree: dark, protected, warm, and off the ground. The smoke shelf above your fireplace damper is the single most common denning spot, especially for mothers raising kits from February through August.
Can I just light a fire to drive the raccoon out?
Absolutely not. Adults often cannot climb out fast enough, babies cannot leave at all, and you will end up with dead or severely burned animals in your flue — plus a possible chimney fire from ignited nesting material. It may also violate Kentucky animal cruelty statutes.
How do you get a raccoon out of a chimney?
For a mother with kits, we remove the babies from the smoke shelf by hand and use them to draw the mother out, or trap her at the flue exit. For single adults, a one-way door or flue-mounted trap works within a day or two. We then clean the flue and cap the chimney.
How much does raccoon in chimney removal cost?
Chimney jobs typically fall in the $300–$700 range including removal and a standard cap installation, depending on chimney height, number of animals, and cleanout needs. See our raccoon removal cost guide for full pricing details.
Will a chimney cap keep raccoons out permanently?
Yes — a properly installed heavy-gauge steel cap is a permanent fix. Cheap lightweight caps can be pried off by a determined raccoon, which is why we install and warranty contractor-grade caps.
Hearing Sounds in the Fireplace Right Now?
We handle chimney raccoons across Louisville Metro 24/7. Also see raccoon in attic removal and our guide to raccoon sounds.