Chimney Animal & Nest Removal in Piedmont Triad & Research Triangle, NC : Humane Removal of Birds and Squirrels With Permanent Cap-Based Prevention
Something has gotten into your chimney. You hear scratching, chirping, or rustling. You might smell something. You might be worried about smoke coming down rather than going up. The right call here matters because some chimney intruders are federally protected (specifically chimney swifts, May through August), some are dangerous to approach (raccoons), and the worst thing you can do is light a fire to try to scare them out. We are CSIA-certified, fully insured, and trained in humane chimney wildlife removal. We identify the species, handle the removal with the correct timing and method, clean up afterward, and install an animal-proof cap so the same problem doesn't return next year.
Do not light a fire — it may injure or kill animals trapped in the flue, can drive a panicked animal into the home through the damper, and is illegal during chimney swift nesting season (May through August) for any structure where swifts are present.
Close your fireplace damper if you can do so safely, and shut the glass doors if your fireplace has them — this contains the animal to the flue and prevents entry into the living space.
Call us. (336) 604-6711
for the Triad or (984) 777-8853
for the Triangle. A team member will help you identify what's likely up there, based on the sounds you describe and the time of year, and schedule the right kind of removal visit.
READY TO SCHEDULE YOUR SERVICE?
One call gets you a real person, a real estimate, and a team that treats your home like our own.
Triad
Triangle
CSIA-Certified Chimney Sweep #12553
Humane Animal & Nest Removal
Safe Extraction & Relocation — No Harm Methods
Nesting Material Removal & Flue Clearance
Custom Chimney Caps Installed to Prevent Re-Entry
5.0 stars Google Rating — 200+ verified reviews
CSIA-Certified Chimney Sweep #12553
24/7 Emergency Response — Honest Three-Tier System
Birds · Squirrels · Raccoons · Bats · Snakes
Three Most Common Chimney Intruders
Customers usually describe the problem by sound — scratching, chirping, scrabbling, thumping — and one of the first jobs of phone triage is identifying what's likely up there, based on the sound, the time of year, and the part of the chimney the sound is coming from. Three species account for the overwhelming majority of chimney intrusion calls in the Triad and Triangle. Each one has different removal timing, different removal method, and different downstream risks.
Type 1
Birds (the most common chimney intruder)
Birds enter chimneys for two reasons: they fell in and can't fly straight up (a common trap for swifts and small songbirds), or they nested deliberately in a place they considered ideal (chimney swifts and, less often, starlings and pigeons). The sound is chirping, fluttering, and the occasional scrabbling against the flue tile. In nesting season you may hear multiple birds at once and chittering that increases at dawn and dusk.
Chimney swifts — the federally protected species
Chimney swifts are small migratory birds that nest exclusively in vertical structures with rough interior walls — historically hollow trees, now overwhelmingly chimneys. They migrate north each spring, arriving in central North Carolina in late April or early May, and they nest through August before migrating south. During this nesting window they are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. We do not remove active swift nests during this window — instead we inspect to confirm the species, document what's there, and schedule removal for September with an animal-proof cap install at the same time. Outside of nesting season (September through April), swifts are absent and the chimney can be cleaned and capped normally.
Other birds — starlings, pigeons, sparrows:
Non-protected species can be removed humanely year-round. Starlings build large nests of twigs and grass that can completely block a flue. Pigeons are larger and rarely trapped — when they appear, they're usually nesting on top of an uncapped or damaged cap rather than inside the flue. Sparrows and other small songbirds occasionally fall in and need to be retrieved before they die in the flue.
What removal looks like:
Confirm species via camera inspection from the top down.
If protected, schedule removal for after fledging (September) and install animal-proof cap then.
If non-protected, remove the nest with long-handled tools from the top down, retrieve any trapped birds humanely, sweep and inspect the flue, install animal-proof cap.
If there's a dead bird, remove the carcass, document any damage from decomposition (odor, droppings on smoke shelf), clean affected surfaces.
Type 2
Squirrels (the most common late-fall intruder)
Gray squirrels and flying squirrels are the most common chimney intruder calls between September and December. The sound is rapid scrabbling, small thumps, and chittering. Squirrels typically enter through uncapped chimneys looking for nesting cavities or as a wrong-turn from a roof line. Squirrels rarely intend to settle in your chimney — they're usually trapped and trying to find a way out.
Why squirrel removal is usually simpler:
Squirrels are small, generally non-aggressive, and often die quickly when trapped without food and water — so timing matters. Calling within 24–48 hours of first hearing scrabbling improves the chance of a live removal.
If alive, squirrels can often be coaxed out using a long rope lowered into the flue or guided through a one-way exclusion device.
Flying squirrels are smaller than gray squirrels and less commonly known to homeowners. They are nocturnal, so scrabbling at night is a strong indicator. Removal method is similar to gray squirrels.
If dead, retrieval and decontamination of the affected surfaces.
Scopes we don't handle (and how we help):
Perfect Chimney Cleaning does not handle raccoon removal or bat exclusion. Raccoons carry rabies, distemper, leptospirosis, and roundworm — handling them requires specialized PPE, a wildlife damage control agent license in many NC counties, and decontamination protocols outside the chimney trade. Bat species in NC are protected under state law with seasonal moratoriums for nursing colonies, and exclusion requires specific permits and timing windows. For both species, the right professional is a licensed wildlife control operator. Once they've cleared the chimney, we're happy to install an animal-proof cap to prevent re-entry. For snakes and other unusual chimney-animal situations, we triage by phone and recommend the appropriate path.
Type 3
Raccoons (the most damaging chimney intruder)
Raccoons are the chimney intruder most likely to cause significant damage. They're large enough to displace dampers, claw at flue tile mortar joints, and shred prefab fireplace insulation. The sound is heavy scrabbling, thumping, and sometimes chittering or growling. Raccoons often enter via uncapped chimneys looking for warm denning sites in fall and winter, or — most concerning — looking for a place to bear and raise a litter of kits in spring. A mother raccoon with kits in your chimney is both more aggressive and far more complicated to remove than a single adult.
Why raccoon removal is different:
- Raccoons are large enough to cause structural damage to the chimney during removal attempts — they will fight, claw, and break flue tile if cornered.
- Raccoons carry rabies, distemper, leptospirosis, and roundworm. Direct contact is never appropriate without proper protective equipment and training.
- In spring (February–May in NC), a female raccoon may be denning with kits. Removing the mother without the kits creates an animal-welfare problem (kits will die) and a property problem (kits decomposing in flue). Both must be removed together.
- In some North Carolina counties, raccoon removal requires a wildlife damage control agent license. We work with licensed wildlife control partners when the situation calls for trapping or relocation.
What removal looks like:
- Phone triage to assess sounds, timing of year, and whether kits are likely present.
- Inspection visit to confirm species and location in flue (smoke shelf is a common denning spot).
- If a single adult, eviction through one-way exclusion device or with a wildlife control partner.
- If a mother with kits, removal of kits first followed by mother, performed by licensed wildlife professional.
- Damage assessment — raccoons frequently damage damper assemblies and flue tile mortar joints.
- Sanitization of denning surfaces (urine, droppings, parasites).
- Animal-proof cap installation — the only durable prevention.
How Animal & Nest Removal Works
Six steps, designed around two principles: confirm what's actually up there before deploying any removal method, and pair every removal with a permanent prevention solution (cap installation). Without the second step, the same call happens again next year — sometimes within weeks.
Step 1
Phone Triage (10–15 minutes, no charge)
You call (336) 604-6711 or (984) 777-8853 and describe what you're hearing. A team member asks targeted diagnostic questions: time of year, time of day the sounds are loudest, sound character (chirping, scrabbling, thumping, growling), volume, and whether the sound moves up and down the flue or stays in one location. Based on your answers we form a working hypothesis about the species. This shapes both the urgency of the visit (a live distressed animal gets prioritized differently from a long-dead carcass) and the equipment we bring.
Step 2
Inspection Visit (45–90 minutes, charged at standard inspection rate)
A CSIA-certified technician visits the property and conducts a camera inspection from the top down. We confirm species, locate the animal or nest in the flue, assess any damage caused by the intrusion, and document with camera photos consistent with our policy (photos only, not video). At this point we know what we're dealing with and can quote the removal scope, timing, and any associated work (sweep, decontamination, cap installation).
Step 3
Removal (timing depends on species and season)
For non-protected species or live animals in distress, we perform removal at the inspection visit when conditions allow. For chimney swifts during nesting season, removal is scheduled for September after fledging. Removal methods are humane and species-specific: long-handled tools for nests, one-way exclusion devices for live animals that can self-exit, lowering ropes for squirrels. We do not use poison. We do not use traps that injure. We do not light fires or smoke animals out. For raccoons or bat exclusion, removal is outside our scope — call a licensed wildlife control operator.
Step 4
Cleanup & Decontamination
Removal of nests, droppings, carcasses, and any debris from the flue. Sanitization of the smoke shelf and any affected surfaces inside the chimney. Sweep of the full flue to clear any remaining nesting material and to assess for parasite or droppings contamination. Any contaminated material is bagged and disposed of off the property.
Step 5
Cap Installation (the permanent prevention)
The number-one cause of repeat animal calls is the absence of a properly fitted animal-proof cap. We typically install the cap at the same visit as removal when removal is straightforward and the chimney is ready for it. For chimney swift situations where removal is scheduled for September, the cap install happens at the September removal visit. Standard or custom caps with welded stainless steel mesh blocks future entry while allowing proper draft for the fireplace. Full details on cap options are at /chimney-cap-installation.
Step 6
Written Documentation
After the removal visit, you receive a written summary with camera photos, the species identified, the removal method used, the cleanup and decontamination performed, and any associated repair recommendations (cap, mortar joint repair, damper replacement if damaged). For insurance situations where animal damage is being claimed, the documentation is structured to support a claim — photo evidence, dated documentation, and a clear write-up of damage attributable to the intrusion.
Step 7
Camera-Photo Documentation Policy
Consistent with our policy across all services and our intake commitment, all animal removal documentation is camera-photo-only, not video. This is the same standard our residential and commercial customers receive and the same standard we use for inspection, sweep, repair, and rebuild work.
What's Included In Animal & Nest Removal
Animal removal work is typically billed in three components: the inspection that identifies what's there, the removal itself (which varies by species and timing), and the permanent prevention through cap installation. The table below shows what each component includes and what's typically not included so there are no surprises.
| Component | What's Included | What's Not Included |
|---|---|---|
|
Phone Triage (No Charge)
|
Species hypothesis, urgency triage, scheduling guidance, education on federal protection if applicable | Not a diagnosis — actual species identification requires camera inspection |
|
Camera Inspection Visit
|
Top-down camera inspection of full flue, species confirmation, damage assessment, photo report and quote | Removal of animal is separate scope |
|
Non-Protected Bird / Nest Removal
|
Nest material removal, trapped bird retrieval, flue debris sweep and smoke shelf cleanup | Live animal handling requiring wildlife specialists excluded |
|
Squirrel Removal (Live)
|
One-way exclusion device or rope-based retrieval, departure confirmation and nest cleanup | Trapping referred to wildlife control partner |
|
Dead Animal / Carcass Removal
|
Carcass retrieval, disposal, decontamination and odor mitigation assessment | Whole-home odor remediation excluded |
|
Protected Species Schedule (Chimney Swifts)
|
Inspection during nesting season and scheduled September removal with cap installation | Removal during nesting season prohibited by federal law |
|
Sweep & Decontamination
|
NFPA 211 Level 1 sweep, sanitization and residue cleanup | Structural masonry work excluded |
|
Animal-Proof Cap Installation
|
Cap measurement, fabrication, welded mesh installation and warranty | Premium upgrades itemized separately |
|
Written Documentation
|
Visit summary with photos, species identification, removal details and repair recommendations | Insurance adjuster meetings billed separately |
|
Wisetack Financing Option
|
Available for cap installation when financing thresholds apply | Inspection and triage visits generally paid at service time |
Repair work flagged during the inspection or removal — damaged dampers from animal activity, mortar joint repair where flue tile was scratched or clawed, leaking caps requiring crown sealing — is quoted separately and presented for approval before any work proceeds. The animal removal visit doesn't blanket-bundle repair work into the same line item.
Pricing Approach
Animal removal pricing has more variables than most chimney services because it depends on species, accessibility, and the presence of dead vs live animals. We don't publish flat pricing for animal removal — the inspection visit determines the scope, and the removal is quoted after the camera inspection confirms what's there. Here's how the pricing is structured.
What's typically billed
Inspection visit — billed at our standard inspection rate
Removal scope — quoted after inspection; varies by species, accessibility, and timing.
Sweep and decontamination — quoted after removal scope is known; varies by depth of contamination.
Cap installation —standard caps versus custom copper or premium stainless vary in price.
Insurance documentation work — included in the standard write-up; in-depth adjuster meetings available at standard hourly rate when requested.
What drives the variance
Species — non-protected birds and squirrels are the most common scopes we handle; chimney swifts trigger a Sept scheduling window because of federal protection.
Live versus dead — dead animal removal requires decontamination work that adds time.
Accessibility — single-story standard pitch is baseline; steep pitch or third-story access costs more.
Decontamination scope — surface cleanup for birds is light; carcass-decomposition cleanup is more involved depending on time elapsed.
Cap selection — standard cap is baseline; custom copper or marine-grade stainless premium upgrades add cost.
Timing constraint — chimney swift situations are scheduled for September; the removal visit then is straightforward but the cap install is locked into the same visit.
Wisetack financing
Wisetack financing is available for the cap installation and any associated repair work when the total job warrants financing. The inspection visit and removal triage are typically paid at the time of service.
Frequently Asked Questions
I hear scratching in my chimney — what is it?
Most likely a squirrel, a trapped bird, or in spring a chimney swift family. The diagnostic clues we use on phone triage are time of year (spring is most often swifts, fall is most often squirrels, winter is most often birds or squirrels seeking warmth), sound character (rapid small scrabbling is usually squirrels, chirping is usually birds), and time of day (nocturnal scrabbling is often flying squirrels). For heavier thumping or growling sounds — possible raccoon — refer to a licensed wildlife control operator before attempting removal. Camera inspection confirms the species before we deploy any removal method.
Will lighting a fire scare the animal out of the chimney?
No — and please don't try. Lighting a fire with an animal in the flue can injure or kill the animal, drive it down through the damper into your home, and violate federal law during chimney swift nesting season (May through August). The smoke and heat don't reliably drive animals up and out; small birds and squirrels often climb away from the bottom rather than fly up, and trapped birds may not be physically able to fly straight up out of the flue. The correct response is to call us, close the damper to contain the situation, and let us handle the removal humanely.
Are chimney swifts really federally protected? It seems extreme for birds in my chimney.
Yes, they really are protected — and the protection has been in federal law since 1918. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects native migratory birds from intentional take during nesting season; chimney swifts are a covered species. Penalties for violation are up to $15,000 per bird, per nest, or per egg. This is not a Perfect Chimney policy or a North Carolina rule — it is federal law administered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. We follow the law because we have to, and because we believe in honest scope. From September through April, swifts are not in your chimney, and a sweep + cap install at that time is straightforward and prevents the same nesting cycle from returning the following spring.
Do you handle raccoon removal?
No. Raccoon removal is outside our scope. Raccoons carry rabies, distemper, leptospirosis, and roundworm, and handling them requires PPE, a wildlife damage control agent license in many NC counties, and decontamination protocols outside the chimney trade. The right professional is a licensed wildlife control operator. Once the raccoon is cleared, we're happy to install an animal-proof cap to keep one from returning.
What about dead animals or carcass removal?
Yes, this is a routine part of our work. If you're smelling decomposition odor coming from the fireplace and not hearing any sounds, you most likely have a dead animal somewhere in the flue or on the smoke shelf. Our inspection visit confirms the location, the carcass is retrieved and disposed of off the property, the affected surfaces are decontaminated, and the flue is swept. Whole-home odor remediation (when decomposition odor has spread beyond the fireplace) is outside our scope — for that we refer to a restoration partner.
Will I need a chimney cap after the animal is removed?
Almost always — and we strongly recommend it. The number-one cause of animal-removal callbacks is the absence of a properly fitted animal-proof cap. A chimney without a cap is, in effect, an open invitation to the next bird, squirrel, or raccoon looking for shelter. Caps with welded stainless steel mesh prevent re-entry while still allowing proper draft for the fireplace. We typically install the cap at the same visit as removal when conditions allow.
How long does the smell of a dead animal take to go away?
Depends on the species, the size of the animal, the temperature in the flue, and how thoroughly the affected surfaces are decontaminated. A small bird carcass that's retrieved within a few days typically leaves no lingering odor after decontamination. A larger animal — squirrel or larger — left in the flue for weeks may have spread decomposition products onto the smoke shelf, the firebrick, or the damper, all of which require thorough cleanup. In persistent cases, odor mitigation may need to extend to ozone or hydroxyl treatment of the home, which is a restoration specialty rather than a chimney service. We assess and refer appropriately.
Do you handle bat removal?
No. Bat exclusion is outside our scope. Some NC bat species are protected under state law with a May 1–July 31 pup-rearing moratorium that prevents exclusion during that window, and bat work generally requires specialized permits and equipment. If you suspect bats (small, fast, mostly nocturnal, often clustered rather than solitary), call a licensed wildlife control operator who handles bat exclusion. After they've cleared the chimney, we're happy to install an animal-proof cap to prevent re-entry.
Is there parasite or disease risk from animals in my chimney?
Yes — most chimney intruders bring some parasite or pathogen risk. Bird nests can carry mites, lice, and bird-borne pathogens that can affect the home if material is left in place. Squirrel droppings and nest material can carry parasites and bacteria. Our standard cleanup protocol: contaminated material bagged and disposed of off the property, affected surfaces cleaned with appropriate disinfectants, the customer advised on minimizing exposure during the cleanup. For higher-risk species (raccoons in particular, which carry roundworm, leptospirosis, and rabies), exclusion and decontamination are handled by a licensed wildlife control operator — outside our scope.
Can I do this myself or call animal control?
Some local animal control departments handle some chimney animal situations — but most do not, because the animal is inside private property and not in the public right of way. The chimney also requires equipment and access (rooftop work, long-handled tools, camera inspection) that animal control does not typically carry. We recommend calling us first; if a situation requires animal-control-specific authority (a sick or rabid animal, a public-safety hazard), we coordinate that handoff. DIY animal removal from chimneys is generally not advisable — the rooftop access alone is a fall hazard and the species ID matters for how the removal should proceed.
What does animal and nest removal cost?
Dryer vent cleaning pricing depends on vent type, run length, and accessibility. Short-run side-wall vents are the most affordable scope. Long-run interior vents and roof-vented systems cost more due to additional time and equipment. Any repair work identified during the cleaning is quoted separately. Call (336) 604-6711 or (984) 777-8853 for a phone estimate range once you describe your vent setup.
Thank you for contacting us.
We’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
We got it.
Request An Animal Removal Visit
If you have an active animal-in-distress situation (animal stuck in living space, dead-animal odor in living areas), call us directly at (336) 604-6711 or (984) 777-8853 rather than using this form. For non-emergency situations where scheduling by email is more convenient, the form below routes to our animal removal team.
Contact Perfect Chimney Cleaning
Triad — Greensboro Office
Triangle — Raleigh Office
Greensboro
317 S Westgate Dr, Ste E, Greensboro, NC 27407
Raleigh
105 Star St, Raleigh, NC 27610
CSIA-Certified #12553 | Fully Insured | Wisetack Financing | 24/7 Emergency
