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About Tony

Tony, owner and operator of Chimney and Wildlife Specialists, has a big heart for rescuing wildlife and returning animals back to their natural habitat. When Tony is not climbing up a roof, he loves spending time with his beautiful family and their two dogs.

Misconceptions about Chimney Care and Maintenance

When you’ve been in the chimney repair and wildlife removal business for as long as we have, you start to notice that certain misconceptions are pretty prevalent among homeowners. Sometimes, they’re based on outdated information, and other times, they actually have roots in superstition. And while we think that “old wives’ tales” can be fun to read about, what we don’t want is for people to continue believing in myths that can be damaging—or downright dangerous. […]

By |July 25th, 2018|Chimney|Comments Off on Misconceptions about Chimney Care and Maintenance

Fences and Barriers to Keep Out Wildlife

Unless you live in a very rural area with lots of land to your name, then chances are, you have some kind of fence surrounding your property line. Man-made barriers are usually constructed as a way to promote privacy and prevent others from wandering into our yards, but unfortunately, the same techniques that we use to deter humans don’t always work on animals. Case in point: while your neighbor may have a “NO TRESPASSING” sign, skunks generally ignore posted warnings. […]

By |July 18th, 2018|Wildlife|Comments Off on Fences and Barriers to Keep Out Wildlife

How to tell if a Chimney Repair Firm is Reputable

At Chimney and Wildlife Specialists, we firmly believe that hiring a professional to do work on your home should not be a huge ordeal. […]

By |July 11th, 2018|Chimney|Comments Off on How to tell if a Chimney Repair Firm is Reputable

How to Prepare for Snake Season

Summertime is Snake Season

“Nope Rope.” “Danger Noodle.” “Slither Spaghetti.” These cute-but-cautious nicknames help convey the mixed feelings that humans tend to have about snakes. Some folks are terrified of snakes, some folks find them fascinating and beautiful, but most of us can agree that we’d rather not get surprised by one while walking around outside! […]

By |July 3rd, 2018|Wildlife|Comments Off on How to Prepare for Snake Season

Things to Consider Before Buying a Prefabricated Chimney

Is your chimney looking old and tired? Would you like to transform your wood-burning fireplace into a gas-burning one or vice-versa? Did you move into a house with no chimney and fireplace but are now wishing that you had them? […]

By |June 27th, 2018|Chimney|Comments Off on Things to Consider Before Buying a Prefabricated Chimney

How Roof Damage Can Affect your Chimney (and Vice-Versa)

Question: how often do you really think about your chimney? It’s okay if your answer is, “Not very often, honestly.” After all, the bulk of the structure lies outside of your home, it’s pretty easy to forget about. […]

By |June 20th, 2018|Chimney|Comments Off on How Roof Damage Can Affect your Chimney (and Vice-Versa)

Accessories and Tools No Fireplace is Complete Without

Is your hearth looking a little bare? Do you feel like your fireplace is missing something? While fireplaces aren’t terribly difficult to use, there are a few tools and accessories out there that can enhance your experience. Some are purely decorative while others are mostly practical; your needs will probably vary depending upon whether you have a gas fireplace or a wood-burning fireplace. Regardless of which category you fall under, here are some recommendations to consider: […]

By |June 13th, 2018|Chimney|Comments Off on Accessories and Tools No Fireplace is Complete Without

How to Help Keep the Mosquito Population at Bay During Summertime

What’s the only thing worse than catching a mosquito in the act of biting you?
Noticing a brand-new mosquito bite on your arm or leg after being outside for less than two minutes.
[…]

By |June 6th, 2018|Wildlife|Comments Off on How to Help Keep the Mosquito Population at Bay During Summertime

Is that a Mouse, a Rat, or a Squirrel? Rodent Identification Guide

Question: “What’s the difference between a mouse, a rat, and a squirrel?”
Answer: “Beats me, but one them just ran under that pile of boxes!”

All jokes aside, how confident are you in your ability to identify and classify? While mice, rats, and squirrels are all rodents and all considered pest animals, they’re definitely not “the same thing.” Let’s take a moment to learn the visual differences between the three: […]

By |May 29th, 2018|Wildlife|Comments Off on Is that a Mouse, a Rat, or a Squirrel? Rodent Identification Guide

Wolfdogs & Savannah Cats – What You Should Know About “Hybrid” Pets

Longtime readers of this blog may recall that, a while back, we discussed the prospect of domesticating wild animals. More specifically, we explained why trying to domesticate wild animals is a terrible idea that will almost certainly end in hurt feelings, destruction of property, and/or bodily injury. […]

By |May 23rd, 2018|Wildlife|Comments Off on Wolfdogs & Savannah Cats – What You Should Know About “Hybrid” Pets