Does insurance cover roof damage from animals?
Short answer. Usually not when the animals are squirrels, rats, mice, birds or insects, because most homeowners policies exclude damage from rodents, birds, insects and vermin. Damage from other wild animals, such as raccoons tearing through shingles and decking, is treated differently from policy to policy, so the exact exclusion wording decides it.
What animals do to Georgia roofs
- Squirrels chew fascia, soffit vents, plastic roof vents and the corners where roof lines meet, then nest in the attic.
- Raccoons are strong enough to pull back shingles and tear through rotted decking near the eaves.
- Woodpeckers drill wood fascia and trim.
- Bats and birds move in through gable vents and gaps in the roof edge.
How the exclusions work
Standard wording excludes damage caused by birds, rodents, insects and vermin, and damage by animals owned by anyone in the household. Squirrels and rats are rodents, so their damage is almost always excluded. Raccoons are not rodents, and some policies cover raccoon damage while others define vermin broadly enough to exclude it. Read your exclusions section rather than guessing.
Water damage that follows
If an animal opened the roof and rain then damaged the interior, some policies cover the resulting water damage even though the animal damage itself is excluded. Report it promptly and photograph the entry point and the interior.
Fix it in the right order
- Have a licensed wildlife removal company remove the animals and install one-way exclusion devices.
- Repair entry points with metal flashing or sturdy vent covers, not just new wood.
- Trim limbs back from the roof so animals cannot jump onto it.
See what insurers call wear and tear and the Georgia Roof Guide on trees and your roof.