The Short Answer
Squirrels and raccoons chew or tear into roofs at weak points: roof edges, soffit returns, plastic vents and soft pipe boots. Birds nest in vents, and woodpeckers drill wood trim and siding. In Michigan the animal has to be gone before anyone seals the hole, or it chews back in or gets trapped inside. Remove or exclude the animal first (a licensed nuisance animal control company if needed), then have the roof opening repaired with metal, not foam or caulk.
Key Points
- The order matters: animal out first, roof repair second, or you pay for the same hole twice.
- Squirrels and raccoons go for edges, vents and soft materials; a sound, tight roof gives them little to grab.
- Woodpeckers and bats are protected, so the rules for them are stricter than for squirrels or raccoons.
- Many standard homeowners policies exclude damage caused by birds, vermin and rodents, so check yours before assuming coverage.
- Trimming branches back from the roof is the single cheapest way to cut down on climbing animals.
Which Animal Does What to a Roof
Each animal leaves a different signature. Knowing which one you have tells you who to call first and what the roof repair will involve.
Squirrels
Chewers
Squirrels gnaw. Look for a round hole a few inches across at a roof edge, a corner where two roof planes meet, the back side of a plastic box vent, or a soft lead or rubber pipe boot. Fresh chewing shows bright wood or clean edges. Noise is usually early morning and late afternoon.
Raccoons
Tearers
Raccoons are strong enough to peel shingles back, rip a vent off its base or pull apart a weak soffit. Damage tends to be bigger and messier than a squirrel's, often near an overhanging tree or a downspout they can climb. Noise is mostly at night.
Birds
Nesters
Starlings, sparrows and pigeons build nests in exhaust vents, under loose ridge cap and inside gaps at the roof edge. A packed vent stops working, which can push warm, moist air back into the attic. Droppings also stain and hold moisture on the roof.
Woodpeckers
Drillers
Woodpeckers rarely hit the shingles themselves. They drill fascia, wood trim, cedar siding and dormer walls, usually where insects are living in the wood. A row of neat holes in trim next to the roof line is the giveaway.
Bats
Squeezers
Bats do not chew. They slip through gaps as small as half an inch at eaves, soffits, rooflines and vents, according to the Michigan DNR. Signs are droppings below the entry point and dark rub marks around a gap.
Where Animals Get Into a Roof, and Why There
Animals do not chew through a healthy field of shingles for fun. They go where something is already soft, loose or open, and the roof edge and the penetrations are where those spots live.
In West Michigan, freeze-thaw and ice at the eaves soften the deck edge and lift the drip edge over the years. A small gap that a roofer would call minor is exactly what a squirrel needs to get its teeth in. The same is true of a pipe boot whose rubber has cracked in the sun or a plastic vent that has turned brittle.
- Roof edges and corners, especially where the deck is soft or the drip edge has pulled away.
- Plastic box vents and the screens behind them.
- Lead and rubber pipe boots, which are soft enough to chew.
- Ridge vents with loose or missing end caps.
- Gaps where a lower roof meets a wall, a dormer or a chimney.
- Soffit returns and soffit panels that have sagged or come loose.
Why the Animal Has to Go Before the Roofer Comes
Sealing a hole with an animal still inside is the most common and most expensive mistake. A trapped squirrel or raccoon will chew or tear its way out somewhere else, often through a spot that was fine the day before. A mother with young inside will fight hard to get back to them.
Bats are the clearest case. The Michigan DNR says to avoid excluding bats during the maternity season, typically May to mid-August, so flightless young are not trapped inside, and to use one-way doors that let bats leave but not return before sealing the opening permanently.
Once the animal is out and the opening is confirmed empty, the roof repair is straightforward. Do it soon after. An open hole invites the next animal, and it is also letting in rain and snow.
- Step 1
Confirm What It Is
Listen for timing, look for droppings and chewing, and consider a trail camera. The DNR suggests one when you are not sure which animal is causing damage.
- Step 2
Get the Animal Out
Use the DNR's non-lethal options or a licensed nuisance animal control company. Roofers are not wildlife removers, and a reputable one will tell you so.
- Step 3
Confirm It Is Empty
Wildlife companies often use one-way doors or watch the opening for a few days. Do not let anyone seal it on a guess.
- Step 4
Repair the Roof
Replace damaged decking, the drip edge, the vent or the boot, and rebuild the shingles around it with the right materials.
- Step 5
Remove the Invitation
Trim branches back from the roof, cap the chimney and keep vent screens intact so the next animal has nothing to grab.
What Michigan and Federal Rules Say About Removing Animals
This is a summary of the Michigan DNR's guidance pages as of October 2026, not legal advice. Rules change, and local ordinances on trapping and firearms also apply, so read the DNR page for your species or call the DNR before you act.
- Raccoons: the DNR says a raccoon may be lethally removed on private property year round by the owner or their designee, without a written permit, if it is doing damage or is physically present where it could imminently cause damage.
- Squirrels: the DNR says a squirrel may be removed by the property owner or their designee without a hunting or trapping license, in areas where hunting or trapping is allowed, if it is doing or about to do damage. In areas where that is not allowed, it points you to a nuisance animal control company.
- No relocating: the DNR says it does not authorize live capture and release of raccoons or squirrels other than for permitted research, so trapping one and driving it to a park is not the plan.
- Bats: protected in Michigan. The DNR says lethal control is not permitted except for human safety issues, and points to licensed nuisance animal control companies for lawful exclusion.
- Woodpeckers: protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Lethal removal is not allowed without a federal depredation permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which says permits are considered only after non-lethal methods have been tried.
- Pigeons, starlings and house sparrows: the DNR says these non-native feral birds are not protected federally or in Michigan and may be removed when doing or about to do damage.
The DNR keeps a nuisance animal control directory of companies by area. It does not endorse any of them, so check licensing and reviews as you would with any contractor.
Bats in a Michigan Attic: Threatened Species and Rabies Testing
Bats get stricter treatment than any other animal on this page, for two Michigan reasons. The first is their legal status. In May 2023 the Michigan DNR added the little brown bat, the northern long-eared bat and the tri-colored bat to the state's threatened species list, citing steep population declines from white-nose syndrome. Part 365 of Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, at MCL 324.36505, makes it unlawful to take a state-listed species, and allows removal for good cause, such as property damage or a health concern, only under a department permit. That is the legal backbone behind the DNR's advice to exclude bats with one-way doors rather than kill them.
The second reason is rabies. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says bats and skunks are the most common carriers of rabies in Michigan. In 2017, for example, 35 of the 38 animals that tested positive in the state were bats. MDHHS also says local health departments get more calls about bat encounters from May to September, when bats are most active and raising young.
MDHHS says a bat found in a room where people were asleep, or with an unattended child or an impaired adult who cannot be sure there was no contact, should be collected for rabies testing, and that you should contact your local health department to decide whether it needs testing. Treatment is not needed if the bat tests negative. That is why letting a bat out of the window is fine in some cases and a mistake in others.
For the roof, the practical effect is timing. Expect a licensed wildlife company to install one-way doors and wait until the young can fly, typically late summer, before anyone seals the openings. Plan the roof repair for the weeks after the exclusion is confirmed, which in West Michigan usually means late summer or early fall, still inside the roofing season.
- Do not touch a bat with bare hands, and keep pets away from it.
- If a bat was in a bedroom overnight or had contact with a person or pet, call your local health department before releasing it.
- Ask the wildlife company to list every gap they found, so the roofer can close the roof openings and other trades the rest.
Woodpeckers Are an Insect Problem First
The Michigan DNR says woodpeckers often drum or peck where insects are present, and that eliminating insect infestations in siding and trim is the most effective long-term solution. Patching the holes without dealing with the insects usually just moves the bird a few feet down the board.
For areas of repeated damage, the DNR suggests covering them with metal flashing, hardware cloth or heavy netting placed a few inches off the surface. Visual scare devices may work for a short time. Most woodpecker damage is to siding and trim, which belongs to a siding or carpentry contractor. A roofer gets involved when the damage is at a roof to wall joint, in dormer cheeks or in wood roof trim that ties into the flashing.
What a Proper Animal Damage Repair Includes
A good repair does not just fill the hole. It rebuilds the part of the roof the animal attacked so it is no longer the easy target. Spray foam, wire stuffed into a gap and a bead of caulk are not roof repairs. Animals chew through foam, and caulk alone does not keep water out for long.
Chewed roof edge
Cut out the soft deck at the edge, install new sheathing, then new drip edge, starter and shingles woven into the surrounding roof. If the fascia board behind it is rotted, that is carpentry work.
Roof edge damage explainedChewed pipe boot
Replace the boot with a new one rather than taping or caulking the old one. Your roofer can talk through boot types that hold up better where squirrels are active.
Pipe boot leaksDamaged vent
Replace the vent and its screen, and check the attic below for nesting material and wet insulation before closing up.
Roof vent leaksTorn shingles
Replace the damaged shingles and reseal the courses around them. If a raccoon peeled back a large area, check the deck underneath for water damage.
Missing shingle repairDoes Homeowners Insurance Pay for Animal Damage?
Often not, and it depends on the animal and your policy wording. The widely used ISO HO 3 special form (the 10 00 edition) excludes loss caused by birds, vermin, rodents or insects, and by animals owned or kept by an insured. Squirrels are rodents. Whether a given carrier treats raccoon damage as vermin is a question for your agent, not for a roofer.
Water damage that follows an animal opening may be handled differently from the chewing itself, and many policies also exclude damage from neglect or long-term wear. Read your own policy, ask your agent, and keep photos of the damage before anything is repaired. Michigan DIFS can answer general questions about how homeowners coverage works.
Who to Call for Each Part of the Job
| Problem | Call first | Then |
|---|---|---|
| Squirrels or raccoons in the attic | Nuisance animal control company | Roofer to repair the entry point |
| Bats in the attic | Animal control company licensed for bats | Roofer for any roof openings, after exclusion |
| Birds nesting in a roof vent | Wait until the nest is empty or call animal control | Roofer to replace the vent and screen |
| Woodpecker holes in trim or siding | Pest control for the insects | Siding or carpentry contractor; roofer if at a roof joint |
| Chewed pipe boot or vent, no animal inside | Roofer | Trim nearby branches |
Roofers do not remove wildlife. If a roofer offers to trap the animal and seal the hole in one visit, ask who is licensed for the animal part.
Animal Out? Get the Hole Fixed Before Winter
Once the wildlife company has cleared the attic, we can inspect the roof, photograph every opening, and repair the edge, vent or boot with the right materials. The inspection is free, and repairs start at $500.
Related Guides
Roof Edge and Drip Edge Damage
Why roof edges soften and lift, and what a proper edge repair includes.
Learn MoreTree Damage to Roofs
Branches that rub, limbs that fall and the trees that give animals a bridge to your roof.
Learn MorePipe Boot Leaks
Cracked rubber, chewed lead and why caulk is not a boot repair.
Learn MoreRoof Inspection
A free look at the roof and attic, with photos of what we find.
Learn MoreQuestions We Hear
How do I know if a squirrel is still in my attic?
Listen at dawn and late afternoon, when squirrels are most active. Loosely stuff newspaper into the hole from outside and see if it is pushed out within a day or two, or point a trail camera at the opening. If anything is still using the hole, do not seal it. A wildlife company can install a one-way door so the animal can leave but not return.
Can I just put steel wool or spray foam in the hole?
As a short-term block after the animal is gone, hardware cloth screwed over the opening is better than either. Animals pull steel wool out and chew through foam, and neither one keeps water out. The real fix is replacing the damaged deck, edge metal, vent or boot so there is no soft spot left to attack, done by a roofer once the attic is confirmed empty.
Will a roofer remove the raccoon for me?
No, and you should be wary of one who offers. Wildlife removal and exclusion is its own trade with its own Michigan licensing for some species, including bats. The Michigan DNR keeps a nuisance animal control directory. A roofer's job starts once the animal is out: finding every opening, repairing the roof and making the weak spots harder to get into.
Do squirrels chew roof shingles?
They can chew shingle edges, but they mostly go after softer or looser parts: lead and rubber pipe boots, plastic vents, ridge cap ends and a soft wood deck at the roof edge. Chewed shingles in the middle of a slope are less common and often mean a squirrel is working at something just underneath, like a vent opening or a gap in the deck.
How much does it cost to fix animal damage on a roof?
Most animal entry repairs, such as replacing a chewed boot or vent or rebuilding a short run of roof edge, fall in the minor repair range. At Stellar every repair starts at $500. Cost goes up when the deck has rotted from water getting in through the hole or when several openings need repair. An inspection prices your actual damage.
What This Page Cites
- Raccoons (nuisance wildlife guidance), Michigan Department of Natural Resources (https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/wildlife/nuisance-wildlife/raccoons), accessed October 2026
- Squirrels (nuisance wildlife guidance), Michigan Department of Natural Resources (https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/wildlife/nuisance-wildlife/squirrels), accessed October 2026
- Bats (nuisance wildlife guidance), Michigan Department of Natural Resources (https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/wildlife/nuisance-wildlife/bats), accessed October 2026
- Woodpeckers (nuisance wildlife guidance), Michigan Department of Natural Resources (https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/wildlife/nuisance-wildlife/woodpeckers), accessed October 2026
- Pigeons and feral birds (nuisance wildlife guidance), Michigan Department of Natural Resources (https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/wildlife/nuisance-wildlife/pigeons-and-feral-birds), accessed October 2026
- Nuisance wildlife, Michigan Department of Natural Resources (https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/wildlife/nuisance-wildlife), accessed October 2026
- What to do when your house catches the attention of woodpeckers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (https://www.fws.gov/story/woodpeckers-and-your-home), accessed October 2026
- Homeowners 3 Special Form, HO 00 03 10 00, Insurance Services Office (copy filed with the Nevada Division of Insurance) (http://docs.nv.gov/doi/documents/home_policies/CSAAForms/AAA_HO_00_03_10_00.pdf), accessed October 2026
- Michigan's threatened and endangered species list updated (1 May 2023), Michigan Department of Natural Resources (https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIDNR/bulletins/3576a92), accessed October 2026
- MCL 324.36505, Endangered species protection: prohibited acts and permits, Michigan Legislature (https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-324-36505), accessed October 2026
- MDHHS reports increase in bats testing positive for rabies in Michigan; residents urged to adopt practices to protect families and pets, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/inside-mdhhs/newsroom/2018/07/02/mdhhs-reports-increase-in-bats-testing-positive-for-rabies-in-michigan-residents-urged-to-adopt-pra), accessed October 2026