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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.

Things You Should NOT Burn in your Wood-Burning Fireplace

As we’ve said before on this blog, one of the biggest differences between gas and wood-burning fireplaces is the amount of variety that wood-burning allows for.  Folks who regularly use their fireplace all have different types of wood or tinder that they swear by, so the kind that you opt to use in your home is usually a matter of personal preference. […]

By |May 3rd, 2017|Chimney|Comments Off on Things You Should NOT Burn in your Wood-Burning Fireplace

Chimney Swifts, the Federally Protected Bird that Might Move Into YOUR Chimney

How would you feel if a wildlife removal specialist told you that a pest animal could not be expelled from your home? And not because the animal is vicious enough to hold its ground or crafty enough to evade traps—it simply cannot be moved because doing so constitutes a crime. […]

By |April 27th, 2017|Chimney|Comments Off on Chimney Swifts, the Federally Protected Bird that Might Move Into YOUR Chimney

Why You Shouldn’t Attempt to Domesticate Wild Animals

Regular readers of this blog may recall that, a few weeks ago, we discussed what you should do if you find a nest of baby rabbits somewhere on your property. And in that post, we mentioned that you absolutely should not try to keep the rabbits as pets, even if you feel tempted to do so. […]

By |April 11th, 2017|Wildlife|Comments Off on Why You Shouldn’t Attempt to Domesticate Wild Animals

Your kids or dog found a nest of baby bunnies. Now what?

A shallow hole in the ground. A covering made from loose grass and soft fur. And a handful of baby rabbits with closed eyes, wiggly noses, and delicate little bodies. […]

By |March 28th, 2017|Chimney, Wildlife|Comments Off on Your kids or dog found a nest of baby bunnies. Now what?

Is that a Bee, a Wasp or a Yellow Jacket?

When humans see some kind of stinging insect in their home or on their property, their first instinct might be to grab a weapon (like a can of bug spray or a rolled-up magazine) and charge into battle.  And while that’s not a completely unreasonable response—especially if you have small children, pets, or people with allergies in the house—it’s not always necessary.  The sad truth is that, in our war against aggressive pests like wasps and yellow jackets, innocent and eco-friendly bees get caught in the crossfire far too often. […]

By |March 21st, 2017|Wildlife|Comments Off on Is that a Bee, a Wasp or a Yellow Jacket?

What To Do if You or a Family Member Gets Sprayed By a Skunk

With their unique markings and funny way of waddling, skunks can be an interesting sight for humans and pets alike.  But there’s no rose without a thorn, and anyone who bothers a skunk may learn first-hand why even bears tend to leave these  critters alone!  In a perfect world, only other wild animals would ever get sprayed by skunks.  But since we don’t live in a perfect world, let’s take a moment to talk about responding to skunk stink bombs. […]

By |March 16th, 2017|Wildlife|Comments Off on What To Do if You or a Family Member Gets Sprayed By a Skunk

Busting Wildlife Old Wives Tales

“Owls can turn their heads a full 360° without hurting themselves.”

“Ostriches bury their heads in the sand when they get nervous.”

“The number of spots on a ladybug’s back will tell you how old it is.” […]

By |March 6th, 2017|Wildlife|Comments Off on Busting Wildlife Old Wives Tales

Identifying Pests by Their Tracks

When pest animals move into your home or onto your property, it’s likely that you’ll see (or hear) signs of their presence long before you actually encounter the animals themselves.  Some critters are easy to identify; there’s nothing quite like the odor of a skunk wafting up from under your porch!  If all you hear is generic scratching and non-descript chewing noises, though, then you might have to search a little harder to figure out what’s going on.  One simple way to ID your intruder is by looking at their tracks.  While an occasional footprint or trail in your yard is usually no big deal, a constant stream of tracks may indicate a full-scale invasion. […]

By |March 1st, 2017|Wildlife|Comments Off on Identifying Pests by Their Tracks

What to Look for When Selecting Firewood

One of the biggest differences between gas and wood-burning fireplaces is the amount of variety that the latter allows for. Gas fireplaces are fairly simple when it comes to their fuel source; you just use the gas line that your house is already hooked up to. Wood-burning fireplaces don’t have this limitation, so you’re essentially free to use cut wood from anywhere to heat your home. Your own backyard, the neighborhood grocery store…the possibilities are practically endless. […]

By |February 20th, 2017|Creative|Comments Off on What to Look for When Selecting Firewood

How to Responsibly Feed Wildlife

Most people have, at one point or another, given food to a wild animal. We’re not talking about feeding exotic beasts like monkeys and tigers, of course. But nearly all of us have thrown bits of bread to a duck, or added some seed to a backyard birdfeeder, or tossed a potato chip toward a curious squirrel. For those of us who live in suburban or urban areas, these kinds of animal encounters are generally as “wild” as it gets! […]

By |February 13th, 2017|Wildlife|Comments Off on How to Responsibly Feed Wildlife