Animals such as squirrels burrow and chew their way into homes in an effort to escape cold or wet weather and can become trapped inside. They can enter a house through the vents and ducts in the heating system and get trapped in the furnace. If a squirrel gets trapped in your furnace, it needs to be removed carefully so it does not get loose in the house and no one gets bitten.
If you believe a squirrel or another animal is trapped in your furnace, turn off your furnace and heater immediately. You do not want to have it turn on and burn the squirrel. A burned, rotting animal can pose a significant health risk to you and your family. Dead animals can also be difficult and unpleasant to clean out and remove without creating a health risk.
Contact a wildlife removal company such as Anderson Wildlife Control to figure out the best way to remove the squirrel from your furnace without it biting anyone or getting loose. We will live-trap the squirrel and remove it from your furnace safely and humanely. Do not attempt to catch the squirrel yourself. A trapped and frightened animal can bite.
Once the squirrel has been removed from your furnace, you need to take steps to prevent another one from getting in your home and creating the same problem again. Find the entry point the squirrel used to get into your house and cover it with hardware cloth or a metal grate so that other animals will not get into your house in the future. If you have large trees around your house, you may need to trim some branches to prevent other squirrels from getting inside in the future.
