“We laughed at first.”
Raccoon Family Turns Colorado Chimney Into a Cozy Hideaway
In June, a homeowner in Jefferson County, Colorado, got an unexpected surprise when they opened their wood-burning stove — and discovered it had been taken over by an uninvited but adorable family of raccoons.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office shared the amusing incident in a social media post, describing the stove as a “temporary Airbnb” for a raccoon mother and her four tiny babies.
Unsure of how to proceed, the homeowner called for help. Animal control officers K. Bennett and K. Rupe were dispatched to the scene to gently handle the furry squatters.
“When we first opened the stove, mama raccoon was still inside,” the officers told The Dodo. “We had to quickly shut the door because she bolted back up the chimney. That gave us a chance to carefully remove the babies.”
Wearing gloves, the officers gently lifted each of the kits by the scruff — mimicking how their mother would carry them — and placed them in a nearby bush outside, tucked safely away to wait for her return.
By the next morning, the bush was empty — a sign that the mother had returned overnight and reunited with her little ones.
To prevent similar scenarios, Jefferson County Animal Control reminds homeowners to install chimney caps, especially during spring when animals are looking for nesting spots. With simple precautions, wildlife and humans can stay safe — and raccoons can find more suitable homes than a fireplace.