Who is Liable When Squirrels Chew Into Your Home?
When squirrels chew into your home, you may have many questions. First, your insurance policy won’t cover damage caused by squirrels. Second, squirrel damage doesn’t usually qualify for any type of repair coverage. This is why it’s critical to protect your home from these creatures. Use Gutter covers to keep them out of your soffits. Finally, spray squirrels with capsicum to prevent them from chewing into your shingles and soffits.
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Insurance companies don’t cover damage caused by squirrels
You might wonder why insurance companies don’t cover squirrel damage. It’s common knowledge that these animals can cause damage to structures and contents, but what about squirrel damage to your home? Although it is a slow process, squirrel damage can be costly, and pest control services may not be enough to prevent it. However, you can work with an Erie Insurance agent to understand your policy and whether it covers squirrel damage.
Most homeowners’ policies don’t cover damage from rodents, including mice and squirrels. These pests often take up residence and gradually increase in number. Most home insurers view this damage as preventable, so they expect homeowners to eliminate infestations before they cause damage. Often, homeowners simply ignore droppings and see no problem – but that’s when a rodent burrows into their walls and destroys their furniture.
Gutter covers prevent squirrels from chewing into soffits
Squirrels are notorious for nesting in gutters and eating the wood around your home. Their long, growing teeth and strong urge to gnaw make them a tempting target. Gutters are often the first place they start their destructive behavior, with squirrels gnawing away on fascia, shingles, siding, electrical wiring, and more. To avoid the hassle of a squirrel infestation, consider a gutter cover or wire mesh to keep these pests away from your roof.
Stainless steel and galvanized steel gutter guards are not squirrel-proof. However, they don’t stop squirrels from eating aluminum gutters. However, you can discourage them from chewing aluminum gutters by using steel sheeting around the holes. However, this will only discourage them from chewing through the metal and wood around your home. This can cause serious damage if you don’t take action right away.
Spraying squirrels with capsicum
Squirrels love to climb on homes and chew up siding, wood shutters, and lead roof flanges. You can discourage them from chewing into your home by spraying them with capsicum. You can also buy a bottle of hot pepper sauce and mix it with a mild liquid dish washing detergent. Apply the mixture on the squirrels’ entry points.
You can also use mace to deter squirrels from chewing on your house. Mace is available in many hardware stores and is effective in deterring squirrels. Be aware that it may wash off in rain so you may need to reapply it frequently. Additionally, squirrels love to gnaw on birdfeeders, so if you have a feeder, move it away from the house.
For outdoor squirrel control, consider feeding them peanuts and seeds. Peanuts and other nuts are delicious snacks for these creatures, but their grubs can ruin seasonal decorations. Try spraying capsicum on pumpkins to discourage them from gnawing on them. If your pumpkins have been exposed to capsicum before, the spray will repel them from them. Alternatively, sprinkle crushed capsicum around the display of pumpkins. It will create a barrier that squirrels cannot penetrate. If you do not have these ingredients on hand, you can purchase commercial hot sauce.
evicting squirrels
To effectively evict squirrels from your home, you can use a strobe light, which will confuse their sensitive eye sight and drive them away. EVICTOR(r) Strobe Lights can cover a 300 square foot attic and pulse at 175,000 candlepower. They shine from all directions to scare them away. The only patented strobe light that comes with a 30 day money back guarantee.
Using a one-way door is a good solution for evicting squirrels from your home. While one-way doors can be a pain to install, they are highly effective for preventing above-ground animals from entering your home. In addition to a one-way door, you can also purchase a commercial one that catches burrowing animals in its trap. Be sure to make sure that there are no baby squirrels inside before installing one.
Once you’ve identified a squirrel as a housemate, the next step is to seal any entry points. Sealing up these entry points will make the eviction process much easier. If possible, you can use EVICTOR(r) strobe lights to repel the animals, as their chemical smell will deter them from returning to your home. The strobe lights should be hung 3 feet up from the floor. If the squirrels are still present, the mother will return to feed her babies.
What does homeowners insurance typically cover?
Homeowners insurance covers your home and property in the event of damage or destruction from events like fire wind hail lightning theft and certain types of water damage.
Who is liable if a squirrel chews through your home’s wiring and starts a fire?
If a squirrel chews through your home’s wiring and starts a fire you would be liable for the damages.
Homeowners insurance typically does not cover damage caused by animals.
What is the difference between actual cash value and replacement cost?
Actual cash value is the cost to repair or replace your damaged property minus depreciation.
Replacement cost is the cost to repair or replace your damaged property without taking into account depreciation.
How much does the typical homeowners insurance policy cost?
The typical homeowners insurance policy costs between $300 and $1000 per year.
What is a deductible?
A deductible is the amount of money you are responsible for paying in the event of a claim.
For example if you have a $500 deductible and you file a claim for $1000 you will pay the first $500 and your insurance company will pay the remaining $500.
What is an endorsement?
An endorsement is an add-on to your homeowners insurance policy that provides additional coverage.
For example you may purchase an endorsement that covers flood damage even if your standard policy does not.
What is a riders?
A rider is an add-on to your homeowners insurance policy that provides additional coverage.
For example you may purchase a rider that covers flood damage even if your standard policy does not.
What is a floater?
A floater is an add-on to your homeowners insurance policy that provides additional coverage for high-value items such as jewelry or art.
What is a homeowner’s policy?
A homeowner’s policy is an insurance policy that covers your home and property in the event of damage or destruction from events like fire wind hail lightning theft and certain types of water damage.
What is a dwelling policy?
A dwelling policy is an insurance policy that covers your home in the event of damage or destruction from events like fire wind hail and lightning.
What is a homeowner’s insurance policy?
A homeowner’s insurance policy is an insurance policy that covers your home and property in the event of damage or destruction from events like fire wind hail lightning theft and certain types of water damage.
What is a dwelling policy?
A dwelling policy is an insurance policy that covers your home in the event of damage or destruction from events like fire wind hail and lightning.
What is a liability policy?
A liability policy is an insurance policy that covers you in the event that you are sued for damages or injuries that you or your family members cause to other people.
What is a medical payments policy?
A medical payments policy is an insurance policy that covers you in the event that you or your family members are injured by a covered event such as fire wind or hail.
What is a renters insurance policy?
A renters insurance policy is an insurance policy that covers your personal belongings in the event of damage or destruction from events like fire wind hail lightning and theft.

Jessica Watson is a PHD holder from the University of Washington. She studied behavior and interaction between squirrels and has presented her research in several wildlife conferences including TWS Annual Conference in Winnipeg.