At Chimney and Wildlife Specialists, we (obviously) spend quite a bit of time looking at chimneys. In fact, itâs pretty safe to say that weâre experts on the subject. So, with a great deal of confidence, weâd like to propose the following radical idea: contrary to popular belief, Santa Claus does not enter houses through their chimneys. […]
“There’s a Bobcat on the Porch!”
What would you do if you went outside to get some fresh air and saw a coyote cutting across your backyard? How would you react if you heard a ruckus near your garbage cans and found a bobcat rifling through your trash? Would you respond well to a bear trying to knock down your birdfeeder? […]
A few months ago, we answered some common questions that people tend to have about wildlife behavior. Well, we had so much fun with that post that weâve decided to do it again! Here are three more explanations for animal behavior and biology that often leave humans scratching their heads in confusionâŠor shaking their fists in annoyance: […]
If youâve ever been camping, then chances are, youâve cooked food on a campfire at least once. Thereâs just something about a hot dog or a marshmallow roasted over an open flame that seems rustic and fun! With cold weather fast approaching, most of us will be saying goodbye to camping and similar activitiesâŠbut must we also say goodbye to campfire cooking, as well? […]
November 11th is Veteranâs Day, a holiday in which we should all take a moment to thank those who have risked their life in order to serve in the armed forces. At Chimney and Wildlife Specialists, we often find ourselves dealing with animals in our day-to-day operations. In light of this fact, we thought it would be appropriate to discuss a couple of non-human veterans in todayâs post. Here are two stories about animals who servedâand showed incredible valorâduring the world wars: […]
Hereâs a fact that will make a lot of people uncomfortable: there are venomous snakes in North Texas. When we think about pest animals, we tend to picture woodland critters like skunks, opossums, mice, and rats. But it is entirely possible for a venomous snake to wander onto your property, too! […]
With October in full swing, Halloween will soon be upon us! This is the time of year when many people are in the mood to hear spooky stories, and if weâre being honest, chimneys can be a bit scary sometimes. But instead of discussing horror fiction, weâre going to head in a slightly different direction. Letâs talk about fairy tales: those fanciful, fun, and occasionally violent fables that have been entertainingâand disturbingâfolks around the world since time immemorial. […]
Question: âHow are chimneys like children?â
Answer: âBoth words start with a âchuhâ sound. Oh, and they both can totally wreck your house if you donât watch them carefully.â
Please forgive the bad joke; it is relevant to todayâs post. Chimneys are surprisingly complex structures, and when properly maintained, they typically function smoothly and safely. But if things do go wrong, the end result can be smoke damage, water damage, or even bird damage to your home. These messes need not be permanent, but it is crucial to know what youâre doing before you attempt to clean them up! […]
As we leave summer behind us and head into autumn, more and more people are taking advantage of cooler weather by spending time outside. Temperatures in Texas are notoriously unpredictable, so folks who are interested in camping and hiking may want to take a trip sooner rather than later. But hereâs something to keep in mind: […]
Salmonellosis, or Salmonella Poisoning if that first name wasnât scary enough, is a type of illness brought on by exposure to certain strains of salmonella bacteria. Food, water, and other items tainted with salmonella usually look and smell normal, but if the destructive bacteria finds its way into your stomach and intestines, it can wreak total havoc on your digestionâand ruin your entire week. […]