The time I sent a family of raccoons flying out a chimney flue

I was cleaning a big old house in Portland last Tuesday and didn't check the damper before starting. When I dropped the brush down, three raccoons came shooting out the top like rockets, and one landed right on my truck hood. Has anyone else had a surprise animal encounter mid-job?

2 comments

2 Comments

spencer_perry771mo ago

Honestly I used to think people who talked about chimney wildlife were just exaggerating for stories but this sounds like a nightmare. Three raccoons launching out at once must have been wild, I bet your heart stopped when that one hit the truck. That's the kind of thing that changes how you work real quick, I'm guessing you double check every damper now. Sucks about the truck hood though, hope it didn't dent too bad.

harperschmidt1mo ago

Rockets" is generous, I've seen slower launches at Cape Canaveral. Did your truck at least get a cool raccoon-shaped dent to remember the moment by?