Squirrels Getting Into Your Roof? What Homeowners Need to Know

Squirrels typically get onto a roof through an existing weak point — a rotted fascia board, a gap where flashing has lifted, a soffit that's pulled loose, or a vent that's been chewed open — and then enlarge it. The damage usually involves chewed wood, torn insulation, soiled or crushed materials, and sometimes electrical wiring in the attic. Whether an insurance policy responds depends on the cause: damage from the animals' entry and activity is sometimes covered, but many policies exclude damage tied to gradual deterioration, wear, or long-term neglect that let the animals in to begin with. A close look at the point of entry and the policy language is the only way to know for sure.

How this affects your insurance claim

Before you patch the hole or call an exterminator, it's worth understanding that the underlying damage — chewed framing, soaked or torn insulation, exposed wiring, a compromised roof deck — can sometimes be a covered loss even though the squirrels themselves are a nuisance issue. What matters is documenting how and when the entry point formed and what it did to the structure before repairs cover it up. Once the hole is sealed and insulation is replaced, that evidence is largely gone.

What to do now

• Photograph the entry point from outside and inside the attic before any repair or exclusion work begins
• Note when you first heard or noticed activity, and any prior storm, wind, or hail event around that time
• Do not seal the hole or replace insulation until the damage is documented
• Keep any chewed wood, vent covers, or debris the animals displaced rather than discarding it
• Call a licensed wildlife removal service to safely address the animals, but ask them to document conditions before repair
• Check your attic for water staining or wiring damage near the entry point and photograph it separately

What the insurance company will need

• Photos and video of the entry point from both outside and inside the attic
• Any available date references for when the damage or activity started (repair invoices, pest control call logs, prior inspection reports)
• Photos of chewed wiring, framing, insulation, or roof decking
• Weather data or storm reports for your area around the suspected time of entry
• Wildlife removal or pest control invoice describing the entry point and conditions found
• Prior roof inspection or maintenance records, if any exist
• Your current policy declarations page and full policy wording
• Photos of any water staining, mold, or secondary damage near the entry site
• A written timeline of when you first noticed sounds, droppings, or visible damage

What your insurance may or may not cover

Whether this is a covered loss depends heavily on cause and timing. If squirrels exploited storm-created damage — lifted shingles, wind-torn flashing, hail-cracked fascia — the resulting entry and interior damage may fall under the same claim as the storm event. If the entry point developed from long-term wear, rot, or deferred maintenance, most Florida policies treat that as excluded gradual damage, and the animal activity itself is typically viewed as a maintenance issue rather than a sudden loss. Your specific policy's wording on vermin, "existing damage," and wear-and-tear exclusions controls the outcome, which is why the point of entry needs to be evaluated before assuming either way.

What could reduce or defeat the claim

The most common way this type of claim gets reduced or denied is a finding that the entry point resulted from ordinary deterioration or lack of maintenance rather than a specific, datable event. Insurers will also look closely at whether the damage was allowed to continue for an extended period before it was addressed, since delayed reporting can be used to argue the loss was gradual. Limited or altered evidence — because the hole was sealed or insulation replaced before documentation — makes it harder to counter that position.

Should you file a claim?

If the entry point is small, clearly tied to routine wear, and the damage is limited to a patch of soffit or a few inches of insulation, this is often a minor repair better handled directly and may fall under your deductible anyway. It becomes worth a formal claim review when there's evidence of a specific triggering event (recent storm, wind, or hail), when the interior damage is extensive (wiring, decking, multiple areas of insulation), or when you're unsure whether your policy's exclusions actually apply to your facts.

How a public adjuster helps in this situation

A public adjuster's role here is to investigate the roof and attic before repairs erase the evidence, document the entry point and resulting damage thoroughly, connect it where possible to a specific covered event, and prepare a detailed estimate of the covered scope. If a claim has already been filed or denied, the firm can review the carrier's position against your actual policy language and present a more complete record on your behalf.

When you may not need a public adjuster

If the damage is cosmetic, confined to a small exterior patch, and clearly the result of ordinary wear with no storm connection or covered cause, a public adjuster is unlikely to change the outcome and a direct repair may be the simpler path.

Frequently asked questions

What does it mean if you have squirrels roofing into your house?

It usually means squirrels have found or created a gap in your roofline — often at the fascia, soffit, or a vent — and are using it to nest in your attic. The damage typically grows over time as they widen the opening and disturb insulation and wiring inside.

How do squirrels get onto a roof and into an attic?

They exploit existing weak spots: rotted or gapped fascia boards, lifted flashing, damaged vent covers, or gaps left by prior storm damage. Once inside, they often enlarge the opening.

Will homeowners insurance cover squirrel damage to a roof?

It depends on your policy and the cause. Damage tied to a specific covered event, like storm damage that created the entry point, may be treated differently than damage attributed to gradual wear or neglect, which is commonly excluded.

Is animal damage considered a covered peril?

Most policies treat vermin or animal infestation as excluded unless the entry or damage is directly tied to another covered peril, such as wind or hail damage that let the animals in. Policy wording varies.

How much damage can squirrels do to a roof?

They can chew through fascia, soffit, roof decking, and electrical wiring, and compress or soil attic insulation. Left unaddressed, the damage tends to expand and can create fire risk from exposed wiring.

Should I take photos before sealing the hole squirrels made?

Yes. Documentation of the entry point and interior damage before repair is important both for pest control purposes and for preserving evidence if you pursue an insurance claim.

Can I still file a claim after the hole is already patched?

It's more difficult, but not always impossible. Photos taken before the patch, contractor invoices, and pest control reports can help reconstruct what the damage looked like.

How do I know if the squirrel entry point was caused by storm damage?

Compare the timing of when you noticed activity to any recent wind, hail, or storm events, and look for signs like lifted flashing, cracked fascia, or torn shingles near the entry point. A professional inspection can help clarify the cause.

Does insurance cover the cost of removing squirrels from an attic?

Typically no. Wildlife removal itself is usually treated as pest control and excluded, but the structural damage they caused entering or living in the attic may be evaluated separately depending on cause.

What should I do first if I hear scratching in my attic?

Document what you're hearing and any visible entry points with photos, avoid sealing anything yet, and arrange for a wildlife removal inspection. If there's any connection to a recent storm, note that before repairs begin.

Can squirrel damage lead to bigger insurance claims like fire or water damage?

Yes, secondary damage is possible — chewed wiring can create fire risk, and enlarged roof gaps can allow water intrusion during rain. These secondary issues are sometimes what triggers a broader claim review.

Who do I call about squirrels in my roof, a public adjuster or an exterminator?

You need a licensed wildlife removal service to handle the animals safely. A public adjuster doesn't remove animals or do repairs — their role is reviewing whether the resulting structural damage may be part of an insurance claim.

How long does it take for squirrel damage to get bad enough to matter?

It varies, but ongoing activity over weeks or months can significantly widen an entry point and compromise more insulation, wiring, and wood than a single incident would.

What's the difference between a maintenance issue and a covered claim for animal entry?

A maintenance issue is damage that developed gradually with no specific triggering event, which is typically excluded. A covered claim usually requires the entry to be tied to a specific, sudden, and identifiable cause like storm damage.

Will a claim adjuster from my insurance company tell me if this is covered?

The insurance company's adjuster represents the insurer's interests, not yours, so their initial assessment may not reflect everything your policy allows. An independent review of your policy and damage can give you a second opinion.

What records should I keep if I think squirrel damage might be a claim?

Photos and video of the entry point and interior damage, wildlife removal invoices, any prior maintenance or inspection records, and a written timeline of when you first noticed the problem.

Send photos of the entry point, any attic damage you can safely capture, and your policy declarations page for a free review of whether this may be part of a covered claim.

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