Unless you happen to own a pet bird, hearing tweeting, flapping, or even pecking sounds coming from inside your walls, attic, or chimney is generally cause for concern. While they may not seem as unsettling as rat problems or even squatting squirrels, bird infestations should be handled as soon as you’re aware of the problem, even if you’re not 100% sure what kind of bird you’re dealing with. […]
In a recent post, we discussed how to respond when a wild bird gets inside your house. And in another recent post, we talked about a few different bat species that are native to North Texas. Well, our readers can consider this post to be the hybrid offspring of those! Let’s talk about how to respond if you find a bat in your home. […]
When we dispense advice on this blog for dealing with chimney and wildlife issues, we usually do so while assuming that the reader is a homeowner. That’s the nature of our business; the folks who typically inquire about our services tend to be property owners as opposed to property renters. In the interest of being inclusive, we’d like to devote today’s post to people who don’t own their living spaces. […]
Picture this: you’re sitting on your living room couch, reading a book or dozing off, when you suddenly hear the sound of flapping wings. Intrigued, you look around, only to see a sparrow, a Mockingbird, or some other non-domesticated bird perched inside your fireplace. You barely manage to say “What in the world…?!” (or something a little less polite) before the terrified critter takes flight and settles on top of your mantle or a wall-mounted kitchen cabinet. […]
When you work in the wildlife removal industry, you tend to run into bats with fair frequency. These winged critters—who, contrary to popular belief, are not rodents—are pretty small, but they can startle the absolute daylights out of someone who’s not expecting to see a bat flying around in their house. And even if you find one while it’s hibernating, the experience can still be unnerving, as bats have a pretty well-earned reputation for carrying rabies. […]
At Chimney and Wildlife Specialists, we’re not really experts on home decor. We’re always happy to help our clients pick out gas logs that will look beautiful in their fireplace or repair structural damage done by pest animals, of course. But quandaries about furniture arrangements or wall ornamentation usually fall outside of our range of expertise. […]
Springtime is officially here! Though we probably haven’t yet seen the last of winter weather, we can all start to look forward to warmer afternoons, blooming wildflowers, and an increase in animal activity. Birds become particularly lively this time of year: their quests to find mates and produce offspring often drive them to sing, fly, and gather resources with extra gusto! […]
When it comes to discussions about chimney and fireplace maintenance, fireplaces often get the short end of the stick. Sure, blog posts and informative web pages about chimneys frequently mention fireplaces, but it’s typically in the context of, “If your fireplace is doing this, then it’s probably because your chimney is doing that.” Chimney problems may be a little more dramatic than fireplace maladies, but is that any reason to delegate the fireplace to “second fiddle” status? […]
When a homeowner calls us to deal with an animal infestation, our technicians don’t just drive over, trap the offending critter, and then leave. Part of our multi-step process is to check the client’s house for entry points that an animal may have used to infiltrate the structure, and if we find any, we’ll try to fix them. The ultimate goal is to avoid future infestations. […]
What kind of cover do you have on your fireplace?
If you didn’t immediately know the answer to that question, it’s okay. While we often pay attention to the hearth, the chimney, and the fuel source for our fireplaces, we don’t really give much thought to the protective coverings that keep up safe from the open flames. But these little structures really are important, so let’s take a moment to look over the kinds of covers you’ll find on both wood-burning and gas-powered fireplaces: […]