Being a homeowner means dealing with a wide variety of home upkeep tasks. Some of these are pretty routine—clearing gutters, sealing drafts, and checking for leaks are all just part of responsible homeownership.
Sometimes, that will mean dealing with damage caused by wild animals. Our homes are stable structures, which makes them attractive to wildlife. Birds build nests in chimneys that are shielded from the wind. Squirrels tuck away in a snug, insulated corner of an attic. Mice set up house in the basement, right near that warehouse-sized bag of pet food. Each of these situations increases the risk of a house fire or other structural damage to your home.
Homeowners should know that this type of property damage is only covered by insurance in very limited circumstances.
Wild animal damage
Your homeowners insurance coverage protects your property and belongings in the event of a covered peril, and a key phrase used in your policy is “sudden and accidental.”
Most types of wild animal damage will fall under regular care and upkeep of your property. If you are routinely checking your home and keeping your property tidy, you’ll know quickly if you have a mouse problem or squirrels in your attic.
Knowing what is in your policy is extremely important, as is understanding how certain provisions and exclusions might impact you.
“Wild animal damage” can mean a lot of different things. Some damage from wild animals might be covered by your homeowners insurance policy, while other types of damage may be specifically excluded.
Types of damage caused by wild animals
The “sudden and accidental” phrasing is an important indicator of the type of damage that might be covered.
If a deer crashes through a large, glass patio door into your home, that is both sudden and accidental and your insurance policy will likely cover the damage to your home’s structure. Dwelling coverage protects your home and detached buildings, like a garage or shed.
However, your homeowners insurance might not cover damage to your belongings caused by a wild animal. Whether or not your belongings are covered will depend on how your policy is written, and whether personal property is only covered when damaged by specifically named perils.
A large, injured wild animal trapped in a home can do a lot of damage. One woman recounted her story of a heavily bleeding (and likely very frightened) deer trapped in her home that resulted in nearly $40,000 of damage. A big portion of that expense was the cleanup costs associated with dealing with large amounts of blood, as it is considered a biohazard.
An imprecise but helpful rule of thumb to keep in mind about wild animals is that the bigger the animal, the more likely it is that damage will be covered. If a bear destroys your deck or breaks into your house, your homeowners insurance will likely cover the damage.
However, as noted earlier, you may only be covered for claims to the structure of your home, and not personal property such as furniture or appliances.
Rodents
Small animal damage tends to be considered a matter of maintenance and is most likely not going to be covered.
Mice, squirrels, and bats can squeeze into your home through astonishingly tiny holes—as small as a dime. And, they can do a lot of damage, either by chewing through things like insulation, wiring, or stored belongings, or through their waste and droppings. Urine and feces carry the risk of disease, and in large quantities require special remediation for cleanup.
Regularly checking your home for signs of rodent incursions is essential. If you see droppings or hear telltale scratching, deal with it as soon as possible. Damage caused by rodents will be classified as neglect or a lack of maintenance and is not covered.
A rare and possible exception to this is if there were no signs of an infiltration leading to a significant collapse or other apparent sudden damage. Some insurers may cover damage from a named peril even if pest damage is considered a proximate cause, such as a mouse chewing through a wire that then causes a house fire.
Your insurance agent will make this determination, but be aware that it is unlikely to come down in your favor. There are almost always signs that animals have made their way into your home, so be vigilant and address issues as soon as they are identified.
Raccoons
Raccoons can be particularly challenging. Their dexterity and determination are a problematic combination—if they want to get into your home, they most likely will find a way eventually.
Stories of raccoon damage to homes are legion. There are dozens of threads on Reddit featuring frustrated homeowners trying to remove raccoons from their properties. One unfortunate homeowner in Canada returned from vacation to discover that a gaze of raccoons had trashed his home, causing thousands of dollars in damage…which was not covered by his insurance.
If you know there are raccoons in the area, take extra care to ensure they cannot get into your home. Block every possible entrance, deploy screens on openings such as chimneys, and seriously reconsider optional openings like dog doors.
Snakes, spiders, and other creepy-crawlies
The type of infestations you need to be on the lookout for will vary, depending on where you live. In some parts of the country, you may need to watch for things like scorpions and wasps.
Homeowners have reported buzzing sounds only to discover massive beehives in walls. Spiders, ants, and other insects can quickly increase in numbers, so call an exterminator quickly.
Termites are very prevalent in some areas and can cause extensive damage to a home. As termites are considered an infestation or pest problem, damage done by termites is typically not covered by homeowners insurance.
Another reason to address an infestation problem as soon as it is detected is you don’t want to attract predator animals. Rodents can attract snakes. Insects in siding and wood trim can attract woodpeckers. Small problems become much larger maintenance issues when they are ignored.
If you have questions about wild animal damage, or want to know what your homeowners insurance policy will cover, contact Rate Insurance. The experts at Rate Insurance can compare homeowners policies, and make sure that the coverage you have is right for the region you live in—because no matter where you live, wildlife can find a home on your property.
Disclaimer:
All information provided in this publication is for informational and educational purposes only, and in no way is any of the content contained herein to be construed as financial, investment, or legal advice or instruction. Rate Insurance does not guarantee the quality, accuracy, completeness or timelines of the information in this publication. While efforts are made to verify the information provided, the information should not be assumed to be error free. Some information in the publication may have been provided by third parties and has not necessarily been verified by Rate Insurance. Rate Insurance, its affiliates and subsidiaries do not assume any liability for the information contained herein, be it direct, indirect, consequential, special, or exemplary, or other damages whatsoever and howsoever caused, arising out of or in connection with the use of this publication or in reliance on the information, including any personal or pecuniary loss, whether the action is in contract, tort (including negligence) or other tortious action.
