Lyons sits right on the Des Plaines River, with the Ottawa Trail and Cermak Woods forest preserves wrapping the east side of town. That is wonderful for the neighborhood and less wonderful for an uncapped chimney, because raccoons, squirrels, and chimney swifts treat an open flue as a ready-made hollow tree. Every fall we clear nests from Lyons chimneys that could have been prevented with one part.
Why river-side chimneys attract wildlife
Animals look for a warm, sheltered cavity close to food and water, and a masonry flue near the woods checks every box. Raccoons climb the outside of the stack and drop down onto the smoke shelf to den. Squirrels fall in and cannot climb the smooth tile back out. Chimney swifts, which are protected migratory birds, build their cup nests on the flue wall each spring and return to the same chimney year after year. Once one animal has used a flue, the scent draws the next.
What a nest does to your chimney
- Blocks the flue so smoke and carbon monoxide push back into the house
- Piles flammable twigs and leaves directly in the path of the next fire
- Leaves droppings that corrode the damper and foul the air
- Traps a frightened animal that can die in the flue and create a lasting odor
- Damages the liner and damper as the animal scratches to get out
Getting them out the safe way
Never light a fire to smoke an animal out. It is dangerous, it is cruel, and a panicked raccoon in a burning flue can end up in your living room. Have the flue professionally cleared and the debris removed. Chimney swifts are federally protected, so an active nest has to be left until the young fledge in late summer; a technician can tell you what is in there and when it can be removed.
The permanent fix is a fitted cap
A stainless or copper cap with animal-resistant mesh, sized to the flue and secured to the tile, keeps every one of these visitors out while the chimney still drafts freely. Once the flue is clean, capping it is a small job that ends the annual nest problem for good, and it protects the liner from rain at the same time.
Homeowners in Lyons can read more about our local work on our Lyons chimney sweep page, or see the full chimney caps and crowns service.
Hearing something in the flue?
Careful work, up-front pricing, seven days a week in La Grange and the western suburbs.
Call (708) 432-5330Frequently asked questions
How do I know an animal is in my chimney?
Scratching or chirping from the fireplace, debris or droppings on the smoke shelf, and a musky or foul odor are the usual signs. A camera inspection confirms what is inside.
Can I remove a bird nest myself?
If it is chimney swifts, no — they are protected and the nest must stay until the birds leave. For other debris, professional clearing is safer and more thorough.
Will a cap change how my fireplace drafts?
A correctly sized cap with open mesh does not restrict draft. An undersized cap or clogged mesh can, which is why fit matters.
Do you cap chimneys in Lyons after clearing them?
Yes. We clear the flue, inspect for damage, and fit a proper cap on the same visit so the problem does not return.
Written by Adam Evans, owner of Chimney Sweep Brothers and a chimney technician with 12 years of experience serving La Grange, IL and the western suburbs.
Published: September 16, 2026