Amazing Ground Hog Rescue in Manalapan, NJ

Challenge

An industrious groundhog managed to find its way into a chimney clean-out door located on the outside of a chimney of a home in Manalapan, NJ. A chimney clean-out door is the “back door” of a chimney. It is located at the base of the chimney flue either behind the fireplace or outside the house. The clean-out door gives access to the bottom of the chimney flue and any ash pit, so homeowners (or professional chimney cleaners) have access to inside of the chimney to clean out soot and debris. Also, chimney access is needed to periodically inspect the flue to make sure that its not blocked. Chimney flues can be filled with all types of surprises bird nests to accumulated bricks from a partial collapse. Chimney cleanup doors allow you to clean out the chimney without making a huge mess of soot and other debris, and allows access from the bottom of the chimney instead of the top, making cleaning easier. Dirty chimneys can cause chimney fires , which can result in serious damaging the chimney structure and significant smoke and fire damage to the rest of the home.  

This chimney door, as often happens, was not maintained or replaced and over time had rusted away. The homeowner had put a brick in the middle of the chimney door space as a barrier to keep animals out. Apparently, this groundhog decided that a stinkin’ brick was not enough to keep him blocked from whatever was inside. The poor groundhog was able to climb in, but then things went downhill for the little critter. He fell about five feet into the flue and was stuck. I was called in to rescue the animal from certain death.

Solution

I broke the “blocking” brick out of the center hole and managed to fit my head, one of my arms, and a snare into what was essentially a 10 in X 10 in hole. What wildlife technicians will do to save a helpless animal! I said a little prayer to the goddess of nuisance wildlife that I would not be stuck in the chimney hole. The last thing I wanted was to be responsible for a 911 call to the Manalapan Fire Department for a man stuck in chimney emergency. Fortunately, I was able to snare and remove the trespassing groundhog as well as my own head and arm! The homeowner did not want to replace the clean-out door, so I sealed the hole with galvanized hardware cloth and super-grip silicone to prevent any other birds or wildlife from entering the chimney.