Yes, raccoons damage roofs by tearing off roof shingles and ventilators to gain access and make a nesting site in your home.
Once inside, they go on to tear out insulation and make themselves comfortable. This is why you see raccoons on the roof at night.
What Kind Of Damage Can A Raccoon Do In An Attic?
A raccoon in your attic can cause water, mold, and fire damage.
10 Signs of Raccoon Damage to your Roof
Signs of raccoon damage to your home include:
- A damaged attic
- Raccoons living inside your home
- Torn soffits under eaves, chewed or broken eave fascia boards, and roof shingles torn away near vents or broken attic vents.
- A raccoon latrine (an area where raccoons designated for poop and piss) will be found in the roof, or inside the attic.
- Flattened insulation inside the attic, or damaged flexible ducts that have been ripped apart and chewed on.
See also [ANSWERED] Can Raccoons Climb Trees & Other FAQ?
Warning: A damaged wiring can cause a fire.
ALSO SEE: Can Racoon Dogs Be Pets?
How to Get a Raccoon off your Roof
Here are some things to do to get a raccoon off your roof:
- Set up a live trap and use their babies as “bait” or foods they love.
- Cut trees back 6’ to 8’ away from your home to prevent access to the roof.
- Keep garbage in secure trashcans using a thick lid and pressure or weight traps on tops. Raccoons are notorious for chewing on thin plastic lids.
- You should install baffles on bird feeder poles to prevent raccoons from climbing up them.
- Get rid of pet food you place outdoors and feed your pet indoors.
- Install a tray on bird feeder poles 6’’ or so below the feeder to catch any dropped seed. The tray should be round with a hole in the center for the pole and be large enough to catch the seed since seed on the ground is just as attractive to raccoons as seed in the feeder.
- Check to see if there are any trees or structures near the bird feeder from which a raccoon could jump to the feeder. If there are, relocate the feeder.
- Metal flashing can be applied to house corners and wooden beams to prevent climbing.
See also Can Racoons be Pets? [Plus, states that allow it] – FIND OUT!
How Do Raccoons Climb Onto Roofs?
Through trees
- Fences
- Poles
- Vines and Plants
- Gutters
- Digging
How To Raccoon Proof Your Roof
- Cut trees back 6’ to 8’ away from your home to prevent access to the roof.
- Install electric fencing on top of any fence that is close to your roof.
- Keep garbage in secure trashcans using a thick lid and pressure or weight traps on tops. Raccoons are notorious for chewing on thin plastic lids.
- You should keep metal sheeting around your roof, as well as around the base of the trees around your property, making it hard for raccoons to climb up them.
- You may also want to check around your home for aging construction and unsecured openings where a raccoon could create an entrance.
See also Can Racoon Climb Trees, Fences, Walls, PVC etc – FIND OUT!
Does State Farm Insurance Cover Raccoon Damage?
No, state farm insurance does not cover damages done by birds, rodents, vermins (including raccoons), and insects.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Raccoon Damage?
It depends on how huge the damage is. If little, the insurance may cover raccoon damage.
Does Home Insurance Cover Animal Damage?
Yes, they do. However, if the damage is caused by your pets, you will have to foot the bill.
Can a Raccoon Climb up the side of a House?
Yes, a raccoon can climb up, down, and the side of your house if given the chance.
Does Usaa Homeowners Insurance Cover Raccoon Damage?
A standard homeowners insurance policy may help cover repairs if raccoons damage or destroy the roof, attic or other areas of the home’s structure.