Stop Wildlife in Their Tracks with Professional Chimney Caps
Your chimney is meant to vent smoke and gasโnot act as an open door for local wildlife. Installing a high-quality chimney cap is the most crucial step in proactive wildlife prevention.
Without a secure barrier, your chimney becomes an inviting home for birds, squirrels, raccoons, and bats. These unwanted guests can quickly make their way into your living spaces, leading to costly property damage, unpleasant odors, and serious health hazards.
By investing in a professional chimney cap installation, you immediately:
Prevent Costly Damage- Stop animals from building highly flammable nests or tearing up your flue.
Protect Your Family's Health- Keep harmful animal waste and parasites out of your home.
Gain Peace of Mind- Rest easy knowing your home is fully secured against unexpected intrusions.
Common Chimney Intruders
Bats in the Chimney
If you have bats in your chimney, itโs usually due to a missing chimney cap or damaged masonry, such as loose mortar joints. These gaps allow bats to roost in the flue or even slip through the fireplace into your living space. To resolve the issue safely and permanently, visit our How to Get Rid of Bats website for expert exclusion and repair tips.
Birds in the Chimney
If birds have taken up residence in your chimney, itโs usually because your chimney cap is missing or damaged. While the Chimney Swiftโa federally protected speciesโis the most common visitor, we also have extensive experience safely removing starlings, ducks, and even owls. Our team can help you identify the species and install a professional-grade cap to prevent future feathered guests from moving in.
Raccoon in the Chimney
If you hear what sounds like birds chirping coming from your fireplace, you likely have a raccoon nursery nesting just above the damper. This is a common issue during birthing season, but we can help you resolve it quickly and humanely.
Our team uses specialized tools to safely remove the mother and her babies, a process that typically takes only 45 minutes. To ensure your home stays wildlife-free, we finish the job by installing a durable chimney cap to prevent any future intruders.
Squirrels in the Chimney
If squirrels have accidentally fallen into or nested in your chimney, they are often unable to climb out on their own. We specialize in the safe and humane removal of stuck squirrels and nests to protect your home and the wildlife. Whether itโs a curious explorer or a growing family of babies, we have the expertise to clear your chimney quickly and effectively.
Why Off-the-Shelf Caps Aren't Enough (The Bat Problem)
Not all chimneysโand not all chimney capsโare created equal. For example, if you have a gas furnace with a lining running through your chimney stack (like the setup pictured above), standard hardware-store caps won't properly seal the space.
Furthermore, standard chimney caps are designed to keep out larger pests like raccoons and squirrels, but their gaps are often too wide to stop bats.
This is where our specialized installation makes the difference:
Custom Bat-Proofing- We install specialized 1/2" hardware cloth underneath your chimney cap. This creates a barrier small enough to keep bats out for good.
Safe, Humane Eviction- If bats or other animals are already living inside, simply installing a cap will trap them in your house. We utilize specialized one-way doors to safely evict the animals before we seal the chimney.
Guaranteed Ventilation- DIYers sometimes try to install mesh without a proper cap, which quickly traps leaves, snow, and debrisโleading to dangerous ventilation blockages. We ensure your cap allows your chimney to breathe perfectly while remaining impenetrable to wildlife.
Don't leave your home vulnerable to costly critter damage. Do it once, and do it right with a custom-fitted cap.
Does a Chimney Cap Guarantee My Home is Pest-Proof?
While having a chimney cap is a great first step, it isnโt always a "bulletproof" solution against persistent wildlife. Even if your chimney looks sealed, nuisance animalsโespecially batsโoften find small vulnerabilities that homeowners might miss.
Why Your "Capped" Chimney Might Still Be at Risk:
Improper Installation- Caps that aren't perfectly flush create gaps that invite small intruders.
Wear and Tear- Weathering, rust, or storm damage can create entry points over time.
Design Flaws- Standard caps often have mesh openings large enough for bats or small rodents to squeeze through.
The "Bat Factor"- Bats can enter gaps as small as 3/8 of an inch. Even if the top of your cap is solid, they often find ways through the middle or base.
Our Solution- Precision Screening & Sealing
We don't just "look" at your chimney; we ensure it's impenetrable. During our initial home inspection, we check every inch of your capโs perimeter.
Case Study: In the photo to the right, you can see a chimney cap that appeared functional. However, bats were slipping through a gap in the center. We reinforced the structure using 1/2" hardware cloth and sealed it with high-grade window and siding silicone for a permanent, weather-resistant fix.
How to Handle a Chimney Swift Infestation
Are loud noises coming from your fireplace? In Michigan, those "screeching" sounds usually mean Chimney Swifts have moved in. These birds are federally protected, which makes their removal a bit more specialized than typical pest control.
Our Multi-Step Removal Process:
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Assessment- We identify if you have active hatchlings or adult birds.
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Strategic Timing- Because their nests are often unreachable and protected by law, we typically wait for the young to leave the nest before intervention.
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One-Way Doors- If adults are present, we install specialized one-way doors that allow the birds to leave but prevent them from re-entering.
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Permanent Prevention- We finish the job by installing a high-quality chimney cap, the only 100% effective way to keep birds out for good.
Raccoons in Your Fireplace? Hereโs What to Do.
Finding a family of raccoons in your chimney is more than just a noisy distractionโitโs a safety concern for your home. During the spring and summer, mother raccoons often choose fireplaces as the perfect "nursery" to raise their kits.
Why DIY isn't the answer:
Safety Risks- Protective mothers can become aggressive if they feel their babies are threatened.
Property Damage- Raccoons can damage dampers and leave behind hazardous waste.
Humane Handling- Without the right tools, itโs easy to accidentally separate a mother from her young, leading to more problems.
Swift, Professional Removal
Don't risk an injury or a messy encounter. Our wildlife removal experts specialize in the safe, humane relocation of raccoon families. We donโt just clear the fireplace; we help you seal your chimney to ensure the neighbors don't move in next season.
Professional Chimney Cap Installation
A high-quality chimney cap is your first line of defense against raccoons, birds, and squirrels. However, "one size fits all" doesn't apply to chimney safety. Schedule a free consultation and inspection today!
We service over 14 counties in Michigan for chimney cap jobs. See our service area to see if we are in your area. Looking for a professional wildlife control expert specializing in the chimney cap process, but not sure who to hire? Click here for information on hiring a wildlife control expert.
If you have bats in the chimney, raccoons in the fireplace, or birds in the chimney and you live in Michigan we service you. Common areas we serve throughout our service area are: Bay City, Dewitt, Eagle, Elsie, Fowler, Maple Rapids, Ovid, St. Johns, Westphalia, Bellevue, Charlotte, Dimondale, Eaton Rapids, Grand Ledge, Mulliken, Olivet, Potterville, Sunfield, Vermontville, Waverly, Burton, Clio, Davison, Fenton, Flint, Flushing, Goodrich, Grand Blanc, Linden, Montrose, Mount Morris, Otisville, Swartz Creek, Dansville, East Lansing, Lansing, Leslie, Mason, Okemos, Stockbridge, Webberville, Williamston, Jackson, Grass Lake, Almont, Attica, Clifford, Columbiaville, Dryden, Imlay City, Lapeer, Metamora, North Branch, Otter Lake, Argentine, Brighton, Fowlerville, Hartland, Howell, Pinckney, Whitmore Lake, Armada, Center Line, Chesterfield, Clinton, Eastpointe, Memphis, Mount Clemens, New Baltimore, New Haven, Romeo, Saint Claire Shores, Shelby, Sterling Heights, Utica, Warren, Midland, Carleton, Dundee, Estral Beach, Luna Pier, Maybee, Monroe, Petersburg, South Rockwood, Auburn Hills, Berkley, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Clarkston, Clawson, Commerce Twp., Farmington, Farmington Hills, Ferndale, Franklin, Holly, Lake Orion, Madison Heights, Milford, Novi, Oak Park, Ortonville, Oxford, Pontiac, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Royal Oak, South Lyon, Southfield, Troy, Walled lake, Wixom, West Bloomfield, Wolverine Lake, Birch Run, Chesaning, Frankenmuth, Merrill, Oakley, Saginaw, St. Charles, Zilwaukee, Bancroft, Byron, Corunna, Durand, Lainsburg, Lennon, Morrice, New Lothrop, Owosso, Perry, Vernon, Akron, Caro, Cass City, Fairgrove, Gagetown, Kingston, Millingston, Reese, Unionville, Vassar, Ann Arbor, Barton Hills, Chelsea, Dexter, Manchester, Milan, Saline, Ypsilanti, Canton, Livonia, Northville, Plymouth, Wayne, Westland. For more areas we service visit our locations page.