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So far Tony has created 73 blog entries.

Six Bats Over Texas – An Overview of Texas Bat Species

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. […]

By |April 18th, 2018|Wildlife|Comments Off on Six Bats Over Texas – An Overview of Texas Bat Species
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Is it Safe to Mount your TV Above the Fireplace?

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. […]

By |April 11th, 2018|Chimney|Comments Off on Is it Safe to Mount your TV Above the Fireplace?
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Springtime Brings Bird Infestations

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! […]

By |April 4th, 2018|Wildlife|Comments Off on Springtime Brings Bird Infestations
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All about Fireplace Repair

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? […]

By |March 28th, 2018|Chimney|Comments Off on All about Fireplace Repair
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Be Proactive, Not Reactive: Why Preventing Infestations is Preferable to Responding to Them

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. […]

By |March 21st, 2018|Wildlife|Comments Off on Be Proactive, Not Reactive: Why Preventing Infestations is Preferable to Responding to Them
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Protective Fireplace Coverings: Glass vs Wire Mesh Firescreen

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: […]

By |March 14th, 2018|Chimney|Comments Off on Protective Fireplace Coverings: Glass vs Wire Mesh Firescreen
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Fireplace Superstitions and Old Wives’ Tales

How superstitious are you? Do you go out of your way to avoid walking under ladders? Do you take care to never open an umbrella indoors? Do you avoid potentially dangerous activities on Friday the 13th? […]

By |March 7th, 2018|Chimney|Comments Off on Fireplace Superstitions and Old Wives’ Tales
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Gas Logs For Your Fireplace

Have you ever looked at a fire burning away in a fireplace, assumed it was wood-fueled, and then suddenly realized that the “wood” wasn’t actually burning? If you have, then congratulations: you’ve encountered a gas log. These little pieces of hearth hardware often go unrecognized when the topic of fireplace maintenance comes up, so today’s post is all about them. Read on for a gas log crash course. […]

By |February 28th, 2018|Chimney|Comments Off on Gas Logs For Your Fireplace
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Hatchlings, Nestlings, and Fledglings: How to Tell if that Baby Bird Needs your Help.

Picture this: you’re taking a walk through your neighborhood, your backyard, or a local nature trail, and you find a baby songbird lying on the ground. The bird doesn’t look sick or injured, it’s just…on the ground. It doesn’t fly away when you approach it, and you get a distinct impression that it can’t fly. Maybe it’s making a lot of noise, or maybe it’s standing perfectly still and trying to hide. […]

By |February 19th, 2018|Wildlife|Comments Off on Hatchlings, Nestlings, and Fledglings: How to Tell if that Baby Bird Needs your Help.
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How to Do a Neat Science Experiment in your Wood-Burning Fireplace

Here’s a fun fact: when set ablaze, certain substances can produce unusual colors of fire. No, we’re not talking about the bright blue flames of a gas stove or fireplace; nearly everyone’s seen that. But, have you ever seen a fire that’s green, vivid red, or even purple? […]

By |February 7th, 2018|Chimney|Comments Off on How to Do a Neat Science Experiment in your Wood-Burning Fireplace
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