Many animals may get stuck attempting to climb down it, potentially even being injured in the process that stops them from being able to get back out again. Capping your chimney can be an effective remedy for this which takes little time or effort, and will certainly, stop a number of creatures from trying to enter this way.If an animal does manage to get stuck whilst inside, it will not be long before they succumb either to exhaustion, dehydration, or hunger. But animals can also die in your chimney or fireplace if you choose to kill them by using harmful pesticides or other chemicals. Whilst it may be tempting, killing unwanted visitors this way can result in more problems later on, as dealing with a dead animal carcass is never pleasant.

Either way, if you do have a dead animal in your chimney, it will need to be dealt with quickly. For starters, dead animals still carry many hazardous pathogens that can affect the health of your family and other household pets, which can easily be transmitted by fleas or other bugs. Also, once the body starts to decompose, it will give off an incredibly pungent and foul odor.

Not only is the smell of decay unpleasant, but it can also help spread diseases and severely impact the health of anyone who smells it. Lastly, a decomposing body will no doubt attract a host of other unwanted pests like maggots, flies, and cockroaches which will give you even more headaches to contend with.