Could you open the door a bit and try to guide her inside a cat carrier (wear gloves)?

Calling animal control can work, as long as they trap her and release her...

Good luck!
Olya

The visual I am getting from this is too funny!

I'm sure it's not funny to you though. I would start with animal control. You don't want that squirrel loose in your house!

We want pictures!!!!!!!!!! LOL!!!

Seriously .... good luck and let us know the outcome.

Betsy

Houdini the Squirrel is still in my fireplace. Actually, the upper chimney area above the fireplace.

All I can say is WHY ME?!?! Why does this ALWAYS have to happen to ME?!? Am I now a squirrel as well as a cat magnet? Sheesh...

She's a fiesty little thing...and not very cooperative.

I have tried the following without success:

1) peanut, almonds, hazelnuts trail from the fireplace to the door.... zero interest.

2) put on three pairs of gloves and tried reaching in to grab her; didn't work. She growled and lunged at me and scared the life out of me; she can live in my fireplace if wants....I'm not adding hospitalization and rabies shots to my day from hell...

3) shoved my cat carrier into the fireplace; the stupid yet smart squirrel is mocking me from the ledge of the fireplace and has zero interest in moving into carrier.

(Sigh).....

Have you opened the damper so she can go up?

....Er...um....didn't think about it, but just opened it now. I figured, somehow she crawled through the damper...figured, she'd crawl out. Guess not. Thanks for pointing out my oversight.

No one will come get the squirrel - not Animal Control or Exterminator (to remove, not kill). I put a box in the fireplace w/food thinking I could capture her in it.

My cat has offered to 'take care' of this problem, however.

I'm hoping I don't have a breakfast guest....

More extreme method - drop a rope (with a weight on it) from the top of the chimney down to the firebox so she has something to hang on to if she can't get up the flue on her own.

If she is still there tomorrow try calling a fireplace company. They might have tips about handling critters in chimneys.

Try looking in the phone book under animal control and/or removal services for companies who get wildlife out of peoples homes. That's what I've seen done on the animal rescue shows. Just trapping momma squirrel might not be enough if she's made a nest in your chimmeney. Good luck!

ladywingr, the rope is a great idea!

Thanks to everyone for all the suggestions.

FINALLY, she left my fireplace last night.

At dusk, she started getting active. I opened the fireplace doors, shu off all the lights and opened the front door. The setting sun and great outdoors acted like a magnet for her...in a sooty poof..she ran out and was gone!

Surprisingly, Animal Control had no interest in helping.

Yay! Glad she is out safely! Thanks for posting the result.

Good news - thanks for the update :)