Our Work

Clearing and protecting a chimney in Bertha

When young swifts fall into the fireplace

Nestlings sometimes drop from a swift nest onto the smoke shelf or into the firebox. In that case the Fish and Wildlife Service points homeowners to a migratory bird rehabilitator, who can say whether the young birds should go back to the chimney or need care. Do not try to feed them or return them to the flue yourself.

Keep the damper closed, leave the young birds where they are and keep pets away while you make that call. Our team can explain the chimney side, such as whether the damper is sealing properly, and schedule the rest of the work for after the nesting season.

Who may remove nuisance wildlife in Florida

Florida's nuisance wildlife rule lets a property owner take nuisance wildlife, or authorize another person to do it on the owner's behalf, subject to the rule's exceptions. Protected species such as chimney swifts are handled under their own rules. The owner's authorization is what allows someone else to act on the property.

In practice, that means you decide who works on the animal side. Where capture is needed, we coordinate with a wildlife professional you authorize and handle the chimney work ourselves. Our specialists spell out which part of the job we do and which part we arrange.

Silence does not mean the chimney is empty

Animal activity comes and goes. Swifts are quiet for much of the day, bats rest in daylight, and a squirrel may simply be asleep. A few quiet days prove very little about what is still inside the flue. Nest material and droppings stay behind even when the animal has left, and they still need attention.

Please do not light a fire or close the top on the strength of silence alone. A free inspection of your Bertha chimney confirms whether the flue is empty, whether nest material remains and whether the chimney is safe to use.

How the estimate breaks the job down

Chimney animal work involves several different tasks, and each one is priced on its own line so you can see what you are paying for. Nothing is bundled into a single vague total.

The estimate for your Bertha home can include coordination with a wildlife professional, removal of nests and debris, cleanup of droppings, repairs to a damper or screen, and the new cap. You approve it before work begins, with no hidden fees. If a wildlife professional's work is billed separately, we say so up front, and our specialists explain which lines are ours and which are theirs.