I have a client that has many trails/burrows in her blown in insulation. Seems to me squirrel size trails/holes. Set live traps sometime ago and have not got any yet. Noises are not being heard anymore. Now, landlord claims right before she started complaining about noises he had patched some exterior holes near the chimney with sheet metal. I am thinking critter(s) was locked in, however, I do not smell decomp...?? Tudor style home with many peaks and soffit areas.
Also a raccoon is inside an uncapped chimney and with the snow I cannot get on the roof. I do not own a man lift. How do you work with the snow?
Mind you, not used to trapping interiors.
Thoughts, please.

You won't always notice any smell from a small dead attic critter.

Attics tend to be very dry places perfect for mummifying small critter that keel over. I've found dead squirrels in attics during the summer where it was there no more than a few days before the sweltering heat baked it dry.

For the smell of decomposition to be prevalent, you need a certain amount of moisture. Larger critters such as coons or possums will have sufficient moisture for a soupy mess. But many times something as small as a squirrel will die, dry and go unnoticed.

The roof in link has nowhere near the pitch of a Tudor style home but I would use same process except all work would be done from ladder and trap would be mounted a minimum of three feet from the chimney roof contact point to prevent raccoon from using trap as a "step down" from chimney possibly springing trap.



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Thanks guys! Nice pics Holt. I just can't figure out how to safely deal with all this snow! Is it better to set trap higher up on pitch, above chimney, or lower? Does it matter? It's a 2 flue chimney, double fireplaces. Coon, of course, is in basement fireplace.

This trail thru the insulation with no animals being caught is kinda got me puzzled. I'm assuming they're dead...But.... Just trying to be sure.

If you don't see coon tracks on the roof, the coon isn't leaving the chimney so the snow doesn't matter. If you do see tracks, see where they are coming down to the ground then put a set there.

Charles, did you climb up that roof to make that set... or cross the ridge?? I see a framing hammer and gloves; no crampons, pitons, belaying ropes, parachute, etc.

coonwacka

Being comfortable on your ladder is key. If you don't feel safe don't do it, no one job is worth it. Personally I feel much safer with deeper snow than say a slick brewercoat drive way or wet wood deck. Even feel safer with deeper snow over hard frozen ground or a light dusting. After I get ladder in place I flip feet and give a few good bounces on bottom rung to bury feet. I am heavy enough that feet will bury slightly into ground especially if in mulched beds or sunny side of home as snow insulates ground. Strapping ladder to gutter or roof is a must for me to feel comfortable while setting. Also rebar with hooks bent in ends can be driven into ground to the point where inside of hooks just touch bottom rung of ladder. We use them mostly in summer on slopes and with feet flipped and two hooks driven in two men wont move base of that ladder without pulling hooks.


Setting trap on ground for wildlife in attic or chimney is not an option for us but as Eric said following tracks and setting on ground may be an option for you. Even with no tracks in snow grease marks on down spouts or another area of home may be a clue to coons roof access and allow you to have trap set and waiting for coon when it decides to exit chimney.

Dave

Straight up from ladder, slight pitch but always in line with ladder that is secured to home. Frost or light dusting compared to this deeper snow is harder for me. Worst slip I ever had on roof was due to frosty spot I did not see, hit it and off my feet I came landing hard on roof, it was in spring and I was in short sleeves but shaded spot on roof got me. Talked to an operator yesterday who told me cougar paws had an add on sole with metal spikes for wet shake or frosted roof. May have to look into those.

Plus side to that set was coon was taken first night with temp at zero. No tracks on roof at set up but I think it was close enough to entry that combo of Predator Control Group's Blitz-Coon and Jamesons Urban Wildlife Bait was to much for her and it was such a short walk...

Have also pulled coons from chimney in cold weather using On-Target coon trail and drizzle it down inside of flue. Nothing is full proof during cold weather but anything I think may pull them out I will try.

As the resident expert at falling off a ladder, I need to mention this; Even with a 12 inch snow base, you will inevitably hit some very frozen ground underneath it all. This will probably have very little effect on the rest of your body but your brain will keep asking for years, "Why did I do that?"

I went out today and set an 8 foot step ladder for pigeons that's about my max under these conditions.

I agree with Charles that in most cases this isn't an option but at times you may have no other option. Another question to ask is if you can't cap the chimney when you're done do you really want to be doing the job at that time. The answer will be based on your client and what you're comfortable with.

When snow is involved, I always start with is the animal moving. If no, I then see if I need to make it move or if I can wait. If I need to make it move, one option to try is an eviction fluid or paste. I've had good results with Vanish for sows when I can get it on their fur and they are trying to get away from the boars or protecting kits. I've never tried it right around breeding season so I've no clue if it would help or hurt. My guess is that just like everything else, it is going to be coon specific with it working at times and at other times not working. Other options are general noise, electronic/mouth callers, and physical disturbance. Again, the method I choose will be partially decided by if I actually need to catch the culprit, or if I just need to get it out.

If there is an access problem with snow, the first question should be can I use a lift? If yes, I can either use it to place a positive set and force the coon up the chimney (I've asked Rich Daniotti to speak at the WCT Seminar about removing coon from chimneys as he had created a special trap and system for doing so) or I can run the coon out of the chimney and then cap it. For most tow-behinds that is only going to add $150 - $200 to the bill and the client always has the right to say no. Of course, this also means I have the right to say no as well.

If I can't use a lift (access or price too high for client) I then have to decide if I need to put safety gear on the roof. Roof slope and the amount of snow present is going to determine this for me. After all, once I get the trap up there, I'll need to be able to maintain it if I'm not removing the coon when I set the trap. For gear, I'm using either a regular ladder with stand-off, chicken ladder, or ridge hooks. I don't like using rope in the winter up here as it tends to get wet and may freeze overnight making it very difficult to work with. I also don't recommend any cleats on asphalt shingles at anytime of year as you will cause damage. Cougar paw does make cleats similar to track or ice cleats, but they are meant for tear-off projects. I also don't recommend putting screws into shoe or boot soles like some chimney sweeps do.

Getting to the roofline isn't that much of a problem in most cases but if I need to cap the chimney when I'm done, then just setting a trap without actually getting on the roof isn't going to cut it. I've written about this before in WCT, but sometimes knowing when to say "No" is the best business you can do.

Thanks guys. Just need to understand the "how to" on so many scenario's. This particular scenario has renter and landlord involvement and neither are on same page. I can only talk to landlord by phone and he's promising me he is going to bring his man lift over so he can trim all overhanging branches and to cap off both stacks (which are 40+') after coon is removed. Which I am willing to do all 3 w/lift. Yesterday had another call, near this home, and let him know I was going to stop by and put some eviction fluid in chimney's, clean anymore feces and send scope in to locate, from interior. Trying to be ethical and pro-active. Told him approximate time I'd be there and to have renter call if that was a problem. So, no call and no renter home. I also told renter/landlord weeks ago to put radio in fireplace to help us disturb the coon. Both agreed. Nothing. So in other words no assistance from clients. That's just the tip of the iceberg on this particular one. I am frustrated. Trying to do ADC full time now that my foundry closed but I guess like any job, the job isn't frustrating it's the people......at times.
I really appreciate the responses!!!!

when to say "no": anytime I do not have complete control of my ascent or descent. If making a slight mistake puts me completely at the mercy of gravity (which, in my experience, is always in "on" mode) and I can fall more than about three feet.
Pitched roofs with ice, frost or more than two flakes of snow fall into this category.

Dave, mercy & gravity in the same sentence - sigh.

Coonwacka, since you are cut loose from foundry, there will be pressure to do jobs no matter what. The situation you described is one I would walk away from and forget about. Don't feel you have to give a lot of detail to a client, especially a landlord. Landlords are notorious for being cheap, telling lies, not paying, and getting as much detail from you the professional so they can do the job themself. Hang in there, things will be picking up with sping.

Mice in that case. Took a couple trips to kill them all.

Thanks Phil for the encouragement and you hit the nail on the head with regards to the landlord! He ASSURED me he had taken care of all external holes into the attic! Last trip out (to collect my traps w/my tail between my legs) I found an opening next to chimney with trail leading to and from! LONG story, I caught nothing, he patched hole and I collected an experience! Tenant and landlord checked traps daily and told me they were always empty, ironically when I pulled them all bait was gone and they were slightly misplaced...... I can't figure out how 4 cages with all bait missing did not produce 1 thing, hmmm.... mice?? Lesson learned! He did quiz me an awful lot now you mentioned it.

ADCofWMt, yes trails similar to that, however by judging the 2x4 in pic, the trails here were 2 to 3x that width. As a matter of fact last trip there also yielded squirrel poo, from the area the cages were set.... I should of took pics, I was just frustrated with the whole thing!