So here is the scenario:

Basement fireplace has a liter of raccoon pups sitting on a ledge about 3 feet above the flue (just out of arm reach. The chimney is angled so you can not see the ledge from the flue. You only know it is there because you used a inspection camera.

From the roof you look down the chimney but can not see anything because the chimney angle prevents it.

Mother raccoon is trap shy and has avoided the trap you have at her gain entry to roof point.

How would you proceed?


My method was to make a hockey stick shape out of some heavy duty wire and knock the babies off the ledge and onto the flue and then collect them. Not very scientific or cool gadgety but it got the job done fast. Left the babies in a box by the tree mom used to gain entry. She probably has already collected them and moved on.

Curious what other techniques would of been used.

I would put urine from the biggest nasty looking bore coon around the chimney tile and around the roof . First thing I do is make sure it's possable to get to the young . That case I would make her move them

Install chim-trap. Either drive mother into trap while you are at the site or leave trap in place until she is caught (usually first night). Retrieve kits. #9 wire with rat glue board works.

Road flare?

Vanish on a tennis ball. Close the damper and drop it in. Set up a camera and collect the $ the next day

Outstanding options.

Mike Flick mentioned using an air horn like you would carry on a boat to chase mom up the chimney to a waiting trap also.

Received an email this morning that box was empty and no sound coming from chimney.

Now today I need to go and try to send my tiny brother in law through a void in a garage turned living room to collect some other babies. If that don't work then its up to the homeowner, I can either cut a hole in the ceiling to retreive them or I can just let mom go and let her move them for me. But since homeowner isn't very confident mom will move them they will probably just have me cut them out. No faith!

On Target coon eviction liquid on the tennis ball for me. Eye sdrew in the side of the tennis ball and a long rope down the chimney. Or through the fire place.

If the coon is a bruiser she has already survived fights with everything. It wont work. If it does work on any coon, ya gotta get it closed or capped within 3 days because she will be back for sure.

the eviction fluid?

Here is one of those unigue cases where I agree and disagree. The only reason the female raccoon will come back ( And she will ) is because raccoons can't count. She has no idea of how many babies were born and she will come back at least once to make sure she has them all. After that, she will probably never visit that chimney again. One bad experience is enough.

Eviction paste or fluid worked every time I had a dead end chimney, but Mike's right; if there is no one there, cap it.