Raccoons Retrieved From Chimney

On Saturday, April 5, the Wills Point fire, police and
public works personnel were dispatched out to a residence on Lake Drive when the resident heard something in her chimney.

City personnel determined that a raccoon had taken up residence in the chimney.

Animal Control Specialist Deno Stanford decided not to tranquilize the raccoon, and instead used a pole to restrain and remove it. After removing it, however, they learned that baby raccoons were still in the structure.

After little success in removing the babies, a call to a chimney sweep resulted in guidance in the use of a shop vac to get the baby raccoons out.

Paramedic Diana Flurry retrieved three babies from the chimney, and it was thought at the time that was all there was. Two subsequent trips were required, however, to retrieve a total of five baby raccoons.

The babies were reunited with their mother, which was being cared for with food and water at the city maintenance facility.