Nesting raccoons can make a big, uninsured mess
Coverage Q&A: If the insurance policy in question is from the year 2000 or earlier, the entire loss should be covered.
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Question: Raccoons got in attic had babies. They also pushed the metal soffit out of J channel. The insurer acknowledges direct damage by raccoons.
But is the urine/feces soaked insulation, which was removed, and the spraying of the attic with anti-bacterial covered? The smell in the living area of house was terrible and required constant air circulation. The homeowners is still hoping no sheetrock will have to be removed. But if so, would that be covered?
— Kentucky Subscriber
Answer: Loss caused by birds, rodents, vermin or insects is excluded in the ISO HO 00 03 10 00 form. Because this can be interpreted in more than one way, the 2011 form clarified the language to exclude not just birds, rodents or insects, but also nesting or infestation, discharge or release of waste products or secretions of any animal.
If your policy is the 2000 policy, then the damage from the urine/feces is also damage from the raccoon, and since a raccoon is not a bird, vermin, rodent or insect, the entire loss should be covered. A rodent is a particular scientific class of animal. Since the policy does not define vermin, the standard dictionary definition is used; raccoons are not vermin, either.
Under the newer form, however, such cleanup is excluded.
See also: Vermin, rodents, raccoons and other homeowner wildlife issues