by Susan
Share
by Susan
Share
On February 27, 2014 the UK’s Daily Mail startled readers with the headline, “Pet Rabbit Was Sucked up Chimney after Freak Gust of Wind Turned it into a Giant Vacuum.” The article goes on to explain that firefighters were called after three days, and they rescued Chloe, the family’s furry pet.
- So, what else was sucked up the chimney besides the unfortunate rabbit? Well, nothing.
- Did the fireplace ashes even get sucked up the chimney along with the rabbit? According to the photo accompanying the article, apparently not.
So the freakish wind that sucked the rabbit right up the chimney didn’t even disturb the fireplace ashes. Photo from The DailyMail UK Online. Photo copyright Mercury Press & Media Ltd.
- And what damage was done to the chimney by the freakish wind? Well, none.
- And what did neighbors report was sucked up their chimneys as this freak wind passed over? Nothing.
- And did the local weather report unusual winds (maybe a localized tornado?) on the day Chloe was vacuumed up the chimney? Well, “no” again.
We surmise Chloe the Rabbit did not get vacuumed up the chimney. It is much more likely that she hopped up into the chimney on an exploratory jaunt and couldn’t find her way back out.
We think this is a variant of the rule, “Don’t do anything you wouldn’t want to have to explain to the EMT’s.” Chloe’s family did not want to have to tell the firefighters that they had not rabbit-proofed their fireplace with a fireplace screen or that their curious pet had merely gone exploring and couldn’t find her way back. So the freakish rabbit-sucking wind story was concocted.
In short, this is not a Rabbit Sucked Up Chimney event. It is a Bunny Tale about a Bad Hare day.
Rescued Chloe suffered only from weight loss and soot in her eyes. Photo copyright Mercury Press & Media Ltd.
The United States celebrates National Bioenergy Day each October. It recognizes and encourages the use of renewable and sustainable bioenergy sources. In 2021, National Bioenergy Day is October 20. When any organic material with few or no productive applications is used to generate energy, we call it “bioenergy.” The biomass can be any organic low […]
Mosquitos are the bane of everyone who wants to relax by a fire pit or fire bowl or campfire. A careful selection of specific eco-friendly firestarters, logs and other fire fuels can safely repel those flying pests. Here is a list of what to burn for mosquito free fire pit or other outdoor fires. What […]
We celebrate Arbor Day in the United States on the last Friday of April. The holiday celebrates the joys of trees. Trees provide both people and animals with services as well as goods. Planting trees on Arbor day is a traditional way to honor forest, ornamental and fruit trees. To those with wood-burning fireplaces or […]
Old timers had rules of thumb, that is, experienced-based guides, about how many cords of firewood a tree would yield. One of those is that a tree that is 18 inches in diameter at the base and four times the height of a man will yield a half-cord of firewood. Different varieties of trees, and […]
