October 17, 2021
Is Skunk Spray Covered by Your Homeowners Insurance Policy?
If you have a homeowners insurance policy, you may have a general idea of what's covered, but may not have thought much about any one overly specific scenario – until it happens to you. Most homeowners insurance policies cover damage from natural threats, such as storms, lightning, ice and snow. But that doesn't necessarily mean your house is protected from everything nature might throw your way.
Q: Is damage caused by skunk spray covered by homeowners insurance? While the likelihood of a skunk finding its way into your home and releasing its spray certainly depends on a variety of factors, such as where you live and how well your home is sealed off from pests and rodents, the odds of it happening aren't zero. So, say a curious skunk sneaks into your home through a doggy door, only to find itself both trapped and highly stressed. Unfortunately, your efforts to help result in the release of a highly pungent spray, all over your carpet. Can you count on your insurance to help cover the cost of removing the odor and perhaps replacing the carpet?
A: You may be surprised to find out that skunk spray is most likely not covered, depending on your policy. In fact, broad coverage updates throughout the industry in 2011 created a new exclusion specifically for: "Nesting or infestation, or discharge or release of waste products or secretions by any animals." So, while hopefully unlikely if you live in a city or suburb, if any animal does happen to break into your home and make a mess of it, your insurance carrier probably isn’t responsible to help pay for the cleanup. Because, also of note, damage by "birds, rodents or insects" is also excluded. So, your best bet is being proactive in keeping critters from ever entering your home in the first place.
Q: Is damage caused by skunk spray covered by homeowners insurance? While the likelihood of a skunk finding its way into your home and releasing its spray certainly depends on a variety of factors, such as where you live and how well your home is sealed off from pests and rodents, the odds of it happening aren't zero. So, say a curious skunk sneaks into your home through a doggy door, only to find itself both trapped and highly stressed. Unfortunately, your efforts to help result in the release of a highly pungent spray, all over your carpet. Can you count on your insurance to help cover the cost of removing the odor and perhaps replacing the carpet?
A: You may be surprised to find out that skunk spray is most likely not covered, depending on your policy. In fact, broad coverage updates throughout the industry in 2011 created a new exclusion specifically for: "Nesting or infestation, or discharge or release of waste products or secretions by any animals." So, while hopefully unlikely if you live in a city or suburb, if any animal does happen to break into your home and make a mess of it, your insurance carrier probably isn’t responsible to help pay for the cleanup. Because, also of note, damage by "birds, rodents or insects" is also excluded. So, your best bet is being proactive in keeping critters from ever entering your home in the first place.
