Is raccoon damage covered by home insurance?

Although home insurance policies usually include coverage for some wild animals, like bears or deer, raccoons usually aren’t covered. To a home insurance company, a raccoon is typically considered vermin, which is excluded from coverage along with insects, pests and rodents. But, if a bear breaks into your detached garage and causes damage, you’d likely be covered for that.

Do rodents pose any risks to my family?

Rodents can spread diseases to humans and household pets. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists mpox, salmonella and rat-bite fever as some of the illnesses you can get from a rat bite. Rats can also spread diseases indirectly, like if you’re bitten by a flea or mite that came in contact with an infected rat. To keep yourself and your family safe, it’s best to keep your home sealed and clean, and call a professional upon any sign of an infestation.

Is raccoon damage covered by home insurance?

Standard home insurance policies typically include coverage for damage caused by wild animals, like bears or deer, but may not cover raccoon damage. Imagine if a bear crashes through your glass patio door and causes damage to the structure, like the door or floors and personal property. In these cases, you’d likely be covered. The distinction comes in classification because policies typically list exclusions for “insects, pests, rodents, and vermin,” so raccoons may be handled differently than wild animals. A claims adjuster or insurance agent can help you figure out whether or not raccoon damage is covered, depending on the situation.

Do rodents pose any risks to my family?

According to the CDC, rodents can transmit diseases to humans, both directly and indirectly. These animals can carry plague, salmonellosis, rat-bite fever, Lyme disease, murine typhus, West Nile virus and more. To keep yourself and your family safe, you may want to keep your home sealed and clean, and call a professional at any sign of an infestation.

What is the best home insurance company?

The best home insurance company for you may not be the best for someone else. Finding the best home insurance company will take some research and your personal evaluation since there isn’t a one-size-fits-all when it comes to insurance. Each company offers different coverage options, endorsements and potential discounts. Finding the best one for you will depend on your situation and needs. First, consider what’s important to you, whether it’s customer satisfaction, price or coverage types. Then select a few companies that fit your criteria and request quotes for the same coverage limits and types and compare to see which one is best for you.

Does home insurance cover rat damage?

Written by

Natalie Todoroff,

Edited by

Jessa Claeys

Published on November 18, 2024 | 4 min read

Bankrate is always editorially independent. To help readers understand how insurance affects their finances, we have licensed insurance professionals on staff who have spent a combined 47 years in the auto, home and life insurance industries. While we adhere to strict , this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation of . Our content is backed by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed entity (NPN: 19966249). For more information, please see our . Our is to ensure everything we publish is objective, accurate and trustworthy.

Sebastian Ramirez Morales/Getty Images

Key takeaways

Standard home insurance policies typically do not cover damage caused by rats or rodents because infestation is seen as preventable.
Damage caused by rodents may be covered in specific scenarios — for instance, if a rat chewed through a pipe and caused water damage.
Home insurance is unlikely to cover extermination services.

Rodents often look for somewhere comfortable to sleep and nest. If you’re unlucky, that place could be your house. Rodents and mice invade around 21 million homes every year during the colder months and, once inside, can pose a threat to your health and property. In most cases, homeowners insurance does not cover rodent damage unless the rodents trigger other damage like an electrical fire.

Bankrate’s insurance editorial team explains the ins and outs of when damage to your home caused by rodents may be covered and when it is usually not.

Compare home insurance rates

Answer a few questions to see personalized rates from top carriers.

Do you own or rent this home?

Own Rent

ZIP Code

Your information is kept secure

Advertising disclosure

This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions.

Insurance disclosure

Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.

Compare home insurance rates

Answer a few questions to see personalized rates from top carriers.

Do you own or rent this home?

Own Rent

ZIP Code

Your information is kept secure

Advertising disclosure

Insurance disclosure

Is rodent damage covered by homeowners insurance?

Your home insurance policy covers your home’s physical structure, detached structures on your property and your personal belongings from financial loss caused by fires, windstorms, burglaries, vandalism and other types of damage. But rodent damage isn’t typically covered.

Home insurance companies see rodent infestation as a “preventable loss,” or an issue that could be avoided with proper maintenance, standard inspections and other proactive measures. So, if you’re dealing with an infestation, home insurance does not cover rodent removal costs — you’ll need to pay out of pocket. Extermination costs can range from $176 to $613, according to HomeAdvisor.

Similarly, home insurance companies won’t typically cover damage caused by insect infestations, like termites or ants. Since these infestations are seen as preventable — neglected maintenance is typically the reason for infestation — home insurance usually won’t cover the cost of pest extermination, either.

Common damage caused by rats and other rodents

Rodent teeth are harder than copper, iron, aluminum and lead, which allows them to chew through metal, PVC pipes, drywall, rock, aluminum siding, glass, cinder blocks, wood, plastic containers and many other household materials. As such, rodents and rats can cause extensive damage to your dwelling. If a rodent enters your home, you may have to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars to rectify damage to your walls, wires or pipes.

When does homeowners insurance cover rat or rodent damage?

While homeowners insurance does not cover mouse infestations, it may help with some of the damage a mouse or rodent can cause. For instance, if a rodent chews through an outdoor pipe and subsequently causes water damage, your home insurance may help cover the damage. Or, if a rodent were to chew through wires on your property and cause a house fire, your insurance may cover it since the fire, not the rat, damaged your home.

Read your home insurance policy carefully, and get familiar with what’s covered and excluded. If rodents, mice or other pests cause a covered financial loss, like a fire or leaking pipe, it’s possible that you can file a claim with your home insurance company.

How to prevent rat or rodent damage to your home

Rodents can cause significant damage, but you don’t have to live in fear of an infestation. These proactive measures may help you prevent rodents from damaging your home.

Eliminate points of entry. Rats can fit through holes as small as a quarter, and mice can fit through holes as small as a dime. Seal off any openings in the exterior of your home – no matter how small.
Find them before they cause damage. Look for the following signs of rodents so that you can call an exterminator before your home is damaged: odor, noises, urine stains, grease marks, burrows, gnawing damage or droppings.
Set traps. Traps can help catch and kill any rodents that invade your home. Humane traps are also available, which catch rats and hold them until you release the animal.
Keep food in sealed containers. Exposed food may attract rats and other rodents. Putting food away, cleaning surfaces and placing cereal boxes inside tough plastic bins may act as deterrents.

If you do find rats in your home, calling a professional exterminator will likely be the best way to remove the rodents from your dwelling.

Frequently asked questions

Although home insurance policies usually include coverage for some wild animals, like bears or deer, raccoons usually aren’t covered. To a home insurance company, a raccoon is typically considered vermin, which is excluded from coverage along with insects, pests and rodents. But, if a bear breaks into your detached garage and causes damage, you’d likely be covered for that.
Rodents can spread diseases to humans and household pets. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists mpox, salmonella and rat-bite fever as some of the illnesses you can get from a rat bite. Rats can also spread diseases indirectly, like if you’re bitten by a flea or mite that came in contact with an infected rat. To keep yourself and your family safe, it’s best to keep your home sealed and clean, and call a professional upon any sign of an infestation.