Your Home Insurance May Not Cover Woodpecker Damage

Anyone familiar with the Woody Woodpecker character from Walter Lance's popular cartoon show that debuted in 1957 will remember what a pain in the neck that bird could be. Those having to deal with a real woodpecker that's in their living environment can identify with the incessant tap-tap-tapping of these birds' beaks in wood, which is one of the unmistakable traits that give away the identity of the species. You imagine the sounds as being evidence that the winged creature is busily looking for food in the form of insects in or under the bark of nearby trees. Actually, searching for food is just one of the reasons woodpeckers peck. They also use their beaks to create nesting holes, usually in dead or dying trees, and to announce their presence to claim territory and to attract mates.

What if It's Not a Tree?

One problem with woodpeckers is that they would just as soon peck on a built structure as they would a tree if one's available, and if that structure happens to be your home you may suffer structural damage to go along with the aggravating tap-tap-tapping. Woodpeckers are known to peck at metal as well as wood, since the louder the noise they can create the more efficient they become in the mating ritual and in staking out their territory. They can cause a great deal of damage if allowed to peck unchecked, in which case you may find yourself wanting to file an insurance claim on your Greensboro home insurance policy to recover costs of repair. Unfortunately, this claim will most likely be denied.

What Your Greensboro Home Insurance Policy Covers

Your homeowners insurance is meant to compensate you for certain damaging effects from natural disasters, significant structural damage caused by things like fires or wind storms and loss or damage of possessions as a result of burglary or vandalism. Most policies also provide a specified amount of financial protection for liability lawsuits if someone gets injured while on your property.

Insect, rodent and bird damage, however, is generally not covered by homeowners insurance, as these things are considered to be maintenance issues. While it's true that woodpeckers can cause significant damage to your home, proper inspection, prevention and maintenance steps will allow you to avoid woodpecker infestation. Several methods exist that are helpful in alleviating a woodpecker problem. You can read about some of them here.