· Michael Blair
An uncapped chimney is a sheltered vertical cavity, which is exactly what several species look for. What you can do about it depends on the species and the time of year.
Chimney swifts
They nest in chimneys across Middle Tennessee and are federally protected under migratory bird legislation. It is unlawful to remove an active nest with young.
The practical approach is to wait until they have fledged and migrated, then sweep and cap. Capping before they arrive in spring prevents it recurring.
Squirrels and raccoons
Both nest in chimneys and raccoons in particular use them as den sites. A raccoon with young will not leave and cannot simply be smoked out.
Removal is a wildlife control job, and the chimney must be capped afterwards or the next one moves in.
- Chimney swifts are federally protected — do not disturb an active nest
- Cap the flue after any removal, or it recurs
- Never light a fire to drive animals out
- A cap with mesh keeps out birds, squirrels and rain
- Bats have their own protections and seasonal restrictions
Never light a fire
Trying to drive animals out with smoke is cruel, frequently ineffective, and a nest in the flue is a genuine fire hazard that can ignite.
It also risks a blocked flue pushing combustion products into the house.
Capping
A cap with a spark arrestor mesh keeps out birds, squirrels and rain, and it is inexpensive relative to any of the problems it prevents.
It is the single most cost-effective thing on a chimney, and a great many Nashville chimneys do not have one.