Squirrel Infested Chimney

We have a fireplace insert in our front room. Last week we began to hear what appeared to be a squirrel in the chimney above the wood stove. It's not the first time a squirrel has gotten in there. In the past I just lit a fire and either they died in there or they were smoked out. Anyway, I lit a fire Saturday morning in hopes to get rid of the squirrel. But later that evening we hear him going crazy inside the chimney again. Of course the cats are freaking out, just standing guard in front of the wood stove. So the next morning I decide to pull the stove out and see if the squirrel will come out. Sure enough after I have about a 4 inch gap out comes this little baby squirrel. I gather him up in a basket and put him outside. About 5 minutes later another one comes out. Know we have 2 and we can here another still in there. The last one didn't come out so I pushed the stove back in for the evening.

Today when I got home the cats were again standing guard. I pulled the stove out and went outside to do some yard work when I came in a couple hours later the cat was chasing the squirrel around the house. I finally managed to shoe it outside but it is still hanging around. I've scheduled the chimney guy to come by next week and repair the chimney cap so we can keep animals out.