New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
“These little raccoon babies were rescued from a resident’s fireplace chimney. Their eyes aren’t even open yet – they are likely just two weeks old!
Fireplace chimneys have been popular spots for raccoons this season- as, for a momma raccoon, climbing onto a rooftop and then ascending down into a chimney, provides her with a safe shelter within which to give birth to her young.
Most chimneys have smoke shelves which are flat surfaces located between the smoke chamber and the firebox – and this shelf is what serves as both the nesting-and rearing spot.
Dedham Police Department photo.
If you find you have raccoons in your chimney, there are some ways you can to try to eradicate them. These include making loud noises, shining bright lights, and/or placing rags soaked with substances with strong odors such as vinegar, up into the chamber below the shelf.
Quite often though, while the momma raccoon may successfully escape the odor and climb out onto the roof, her kits, being too young, fall down under the smoke shelf and wind up inside the fireplace.
In this case, it’s best to contact Animal Control or a nuisance wildlife professional. We strongly urge against any unnecessary exposures or physical contact with raccoons, and let’s not forget that raccoons can be carriers of Rabies.
Dedham Police Department photo.
Once the raccoons have been safely extracted from the chimney, the next recommendation is to place a cap on the chimney to prevent further, similar incidents. And if you haven’t yet had any animals in your chimney, then placing a cap is a good preventive measure too!
For more information, or assistance, contact your Animal Control Officer. 781.751.9106.” -Dedham Police Department.
