Chimney Animal Removal in St. Augustine, FL
Get the animal out, clear the nest, and close the top behind it.
- Family run
- Locally owned
- Licensed and insured
- Same-day service
Get Your Free Inspection
Request Received
Got it, thank you. Expect a call from the family to book your free inspection.
Or call us at (904) 943-7482
Short version
Chimney animal removal gets birds, squirrels, raccoons or other animals out of a flue and keeps them out. The crew identifies the animal, removes it or waits out protected chimney swifts, clears nests and debris, sweeps the flue, and fits a screened cap.
Inspect First, Then Save 10%
We inspect and identify the animal for free. Book within 72 hours, take 10% off.
Why Homeowners Call Us Back
-
Family run
The company is run by one family, so the people who price the job are the people who answer for it.
-
Upfront, honest pricing
The price is on paper before we start. If something changes, we ask before doing more.
-
Workmanship warranty
Our workmanship warranty backs every repair we complete.
-
Licensed and insured
Licensed and insured, with an experienced crew on every roof and hearth.
Animals in Chimney Flues
An open flue looks like a hollow tree to many animals. Birds in chimney flues turn up often, a squirrel in chimney spaces now and then in spring, and now and then a raccoon in chimney smoke chambers, where a mother may raise young. Bats and snakes turn up less often.
Animals in chimney flues bring nesting material, droppings and sometimes parasites, and a blocked flue is a fire and smoke hazard.
Protected Birds and Bats
Chimney swifts are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and an active nest cannot be disturbed. They nest through the warm months and leave on their fall migration, after which bird nest in chimney removal and capping can go ahead. Bats are protected in Florida too, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission sets a maternity season when exclusion is not allowed.
We identify what is in the flue first. If protected birds or bats are nesting, we explain the timing and what you can do in the meantime, such as keeping the damper closed.
Removal, Clean-Out and Capping
For birds that are not protected, squirrels and raccoons, animal in chimney removal is done humanely, often with a one-way exit or by lifting the animal out by hand. Bat in chimney removal follows the state's exclusion rules. Bird removal from chimney flues ends with clearing every bit of nesting material.
Once the flue is empty, we sweep it, check the damper and fit a screened cap. A cap is what stops the next animal in chimney visit.
What We Check For
- Chirping in summer
- Often chimney swifts. They are protected, so the nest stays until they leave.
- Scratching in the smoke chamber
- A squirrel or raccoon. We remove it and close the top.
- Smell from the fireplace
- Sometimes a dead animal or old nest. We clear it and sweep the flue.
Parts and Materials We Use
- Screened chimney cap
- Keeps animals out while smoke escapes.
- One-way exit device
- Lets an animal leave but not come back, where allowed.
Repair or the Bigger Job
Request a Free Inspection in St. Augustine
- No-charge inspection, priced on paper
- Upfront pricing with no hidden fees
- Family owned and run
Request Received
Got it, thank you. Expect a call from the family to book your free inspection.
Questions We Hear Often
How long will chimney swifts stay in my chimney?
Chimney swifts usually stay through the nesting season and leave for their fall migration. While the nest is active, federal law protects it, so keep the damper closed and wait. Once the birds are gone, the flue can be swept and capped so they nest somewhere else when they return.
When do chimney swifts leave?
Chimney swifts leave Florida for their fall migration, once the young have fledged and the weather turns. The nest stays protected by federal law until then, so the damper stays closed; after they go, the flue is swept and a screened cap fitted, which keeps the flue closed when they come back north.
Do chimney caps keep bats out?
A screened chimney cap with small mesh keeps bats out of the flue once it is installed. Any bats already inside have to leave first, and Florida limits exclusion during the bat maternity season. The cap and screen go on after the flue is confirmed empty.
Signs This Work Is Due
Scratching, chirping or a sudden smell from the fireplace usually means an animal has found an open flue. We work out what is in there, get it out without harming protected species, clear the nest and debris, and fit a cap so the chimney stays closed to them.
- Scratching or fluttering in the flue
- Chirping that rises and falls through the day
- Nesting material or droppings in the firebox
- A strong odor from the fireplace
What Sets the Price
- Type of animal
- Some need return visits.
- Nest and debris volume
- Large nests take longer to clear.
Proudly American
Owned and run by one St. Augustine family. Our experienced crew puts every estimate on paper and backs its repairs with a workmanship warranty.
Call Now (904) 943-7482Close the Chimney to Wildlife
Find out what is living in the flue and how it comes out, at no cost to you.