For the last month, we have heard increasing bird noises in our chimney. The flue is closed and we assume they cannot come into the house, but the problem is increasing in frequency of noise and level of noise.

Do we start up the fireplace to scare them? We do not want to hurt whatever has chosen the chimney as a summer home.

Thank you.

Good Morning,

Birds and raccoons seem to like chimneys as places to start a family. If at all possible, try to let the adults finish raising their young. Baby birds will fledge from the nest in about two to three weeks. Baby mammals will remain in the 'den' for up to two months. Other than the inconvenience from the noise, the birds/animals should not cause any damage to the chimney and are not a danger to your family. As long as the chimney flue is closed, the birds/animals will not have access to your house. Do NOT use the fireplace until the birds/animals have left the chimney permanently. Once the birds have gone, have the chimney professionally cleaned before using it again to avoid a fire hazard. Install a commercial chimney cap or repair a damaged chimney cap to prevent birds or animals from gaining access to the chimney in the future. Thanks for writing.