Cozy 1B, W/Fireplace

Tue., Feb. 29, 2000

By Susan English susane@spokesman.com

There’s apparently a rash of trouble for those with fireplace chimneys. The trouble is with squirrels.

Last week, two co-workers evicted squirrels who had taken up residence in their chimneys. How did they know about the squirrels?

Well, one co-worker heard scratching noises in his fireplace, which is closed and has an insert that prevents seeing what’s inside. Day after day the scratching persisted. After a weekend spent tapping on the fireplace doors (which had no effect), he called a professional animal relocation service. Within a half-hour of the trapper’s arrival, the squirrel was caged and on its way to the woods.

The other co-worker noticed a backdraft from his gas fireplace and set about replacing fireplace parts. Finally, he determined the chimney must be plugged. He climbed on the roof and poked a golf club down the chimney (Critter Watch does not endorse this method at all). A squirrel exploded out of the chimney and jumped to a nearby tree, nearly startling the co-worker off the roof.

Chimney sweeps have cleaned out the squirrel’s nest.

These incidents aren’t proof that all squirrels are nesting, but it’s not too early in the spring to be aware some are looking for a warm, cozy spot to raise young-uns. With screens and caps, chimney sweeps can prevent similar chimney incidents.

* Be prepared: We’ve smelled clear evidence that skunks have come out of their winter dens and are roaming. That means the dog-skunk encounters will resume. So, here’s the always popular recipe that neutralizes skunk spray: 1 quart hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup baking soda, 1 teaspoon liquid dishwashing soap. Mix, pour over dog (or cat) where it’s been sprayed, rinse.

Our advice: Clip the recipe, buy the ingredients and keep them handy just in case.

* Backyard journal: The ice on the nearby pond was melted barely a day when the Canada geese arrived. Not in the daytime, though. They sailed in, honking, on a clear night, finding their way by moonlight. After the relative silence of winter, the geese and the mallards that followed them seem noisy. But not unwelcome.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.