A Colorado Family Called Animal Control After Hearing Strange Sounds in Their Woodstove
A Colorado family got an unexpected surprise after hearing strange noises coming from inside their woodstove — and discovering an entire raccoon family had moved into their chimney.
The homeowners noticed unusual sounds coming from the fireplace area and decided not to investigate on their own. Instead, they contacted the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, which sent animal control officers to the home to figure out what was hiding inside.
After inspecting the chimney, officers discovered several baby raccoons living comfortably inside the woodstove area after entering through the top of the chimney. The animals appeared calm and had likely been there for some time.
Wearing protective gear, animal control officers carefully removed the baby raccoons one by one and placed them safely outside near the home. They then returned inside to retrieve the mother raccoon, who cooperated throughout the rescue without causing problems.
Once reunited outdoors, the raccoon family lingered near the property for a short time before eventually disappearing by the next morning. Officials believe the animals likely moved on to a more natural shelter away from the home.
Animal control officers recommended the homeowners install a chimney cap to help prevent wildlife from entering the chimney again in the future. While raccoon encounters like this are not extremely common, experts say open chimneys can become attractive shelter spots for animals looking for warmth and protection.
