Chimney raccoons

[Oberon]

Here in Palm Springs, there are no fleas. Ha! Our house has a double chimney. Used to be a little fireplace in the kitchen wall. When we remodeled we walled it off. One peaceful evening we heard rustling in our walls. Probably a lizard, say I, or, ghastly thought, a gigantic insect of some sort. Another evening we heard louder rustling, then a cheeping sound. Lizards don't cheep, say I, and I hate to think what that gigantic insect will do. My wife goes to the fireplace in the living room and rummages therein. She is answered by a low growl and hiss. We are dealing with mammals.

Now I recall seeing, several days ago, a raccoon mama carrying a little baby along the top of the garden wall and jumping up onto the roof. That's pointless, think I, there's nothing up there of any use to her. Wrong. Perfect, very safe nest. We pounded on the wall and made things so unpleasant for them they decided to move out, chirping across the roof, down into the hedges, finally fading as they moved on down the road, probably to the storm drain.

Next day our two cats are loaded with fleas. Joan combs them several times a day, removing them in the twenties. We spray, we get Advantage fast delivery from Internet - Vets in this town don't have it, there are no fleas in the desert. I vacuum everything. Three days later I vacuum again. I think they're gone, but there can be little doubt where they came from.

I need to cap the chimney.

[MaryMumsy]

At least they weren't squirrels. Many years ago when I lived in south Texas, some people went to Europe for a month. When they returned their home had been totally trashed. Two squirrels had come down the chimney and into the house. And couldn't get back out. After eating the upholstery etc, they died and made a massive stink, on top of all the other damage.

MM