People living in suburban areas often encounter wildlife rummaging through trash bins or darting across their yards. It’s a common part of life in these neighborhoods. Sometimes, you might even spot a squirrel nesting in a backyard tree.
But what if wild animals managed to settle inside your home without you realizing it?
That’s exactly what happened to one Colorado household. After noticing something strange inside their woodstove, they reached out to Animal Control for help.
It’s A Lovely Family
In a quiet Colorado neighborhood, a family noticed something strange coming from their woodstove.
Curious but cautious, they decided not to investigate on their own. Instead, they contacted the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office for assistance.
Two animal control officers, K. Bennett and K. Rupe, arrived at the home and quickly realized that the visitors had entered through the chimney. The animals had clearly been there for some time, appearing settled and undisturbed inside the stove.
The officers, K. Bennett and K. Rupe, told The Dodo: “We laughed at first, because when we first opened the door, mama raccoon was still in the fireplace. We had to shut the door very [quickly]. She ran back up the chimney, and that’s when we were able to open the door and get the babies.”
Wearing gloves, the officers gently removed the baby raccoons and placed them in a nearby bush outside. They then returned to retrieve the mother.
The raccoons remained calm throughout the process, which made the removal much smoother for the officers.
Raccoon Family Quietly Slips Away Overnight
After the babies and their mother were reunited outdoors, they lingered near the home for a while. It wasn’t until the following morning that the homeowner noticed they had disappeared.
The family assumed the raccoons had returned to their natural habitat and wouldn’t be climbing back into the chimney again.
Still, there was no way to know for sure. They could have simply relocated to another home with an open chimney nearby.
The officers advised the homeowners to install a chimney cap to prevent future intrusions. Though this kind of incident is uncommon, it can lead to more serious problems if not addressed.
This particular situation was resolved quickly and without harm, thanks to the calm response of the homeowners and the careful work of the Colorado animal control team.