Does homeowners cover animal damage?
Matthew Underwood
Published Jan 19, 2026
Typically, insurers are more likely to cover damage by larger animals. Animals such as mice, rats, and squirrels are often excluded from insurance policies. Similarly, your pets are almost always excluded. Depending on the type of animal damage, your policy may only cover damage to the structure of the house.
Does homeowners insurance cover squirrel damage in attic?
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Damage By Small Animals? Damage to your home or other structures from insects, rodents (for example, rats, mice, squirrels and chipmunks) or birds is usually not covered by a standard homeowners policy (although a window broken by a bird may be an exception).
Can a homeowners insurance policy cover raccoon damage?
A standard homeowners insurance policy may help cover repairs if raccoons damage or destroy the roof, attic or other areas of the home’s structure. However, homeowners are typically responsible for repairing or replacing personal items — such as clothing, electronics and furniture — that are damaged by raccoons.
Why do you need Allstate home insurance for roof damage?
When it comes to protecting your home, quality coverage makes all the difference. Allstate home insurance can help take care of what matters to you. Roof damage is often the result of raccoons searching for a place to nest.
What kind of damage does a raccoon do?
They do pretty good damage, but they do nothing like raccoons.’’ The insurance policy states that the company does not cover damage caused by “birds, rodents, insects, or vermin. Vermin means animals that tend to access, or enter into or under, structures for foraging or shelter, and, as a result, cause loss or damage.
Can a raccoon be considered a vermin under an insurance policy?
The trial court in Marks expressly adopted the rationale of the Texas court and concluded a raccoon is not a vermin under the policy exclusion. The American Association of Insurance Services (AAIS) drafts policy language for insurance companies to write into their policies.
