Will Sally's homeowner's policy cover the damage caused by a bear breaking down her door, and why?

The correct answer highlights that the HO-3 (Homeowners Policy, Form 3) operates primarily as an open peril policy, meaning it covers a broad range of risks unless they are specifically excluded in the policy language. This means that general incidents, such as damage caused by wild animals, are typically covered unless there is an explicit exclusion stating otherwise.

In the context of Sally's situation, since bears are not commonly categorized as an excluded item under the HO-3 policy, the damage they cause when breaking down the door would generally be covered. Open peril policies are designed to protect against most threats, ensuring homeowners have extensive coverage for unexpected damages.

As for the other options, it is important to understand that without exclusions detailed in the policy, a bear breaking down her door would not fall outside the coverage protections offered under the HO-3 structure. This emphasizes the importance of reviewing a policy's specific terms regarding exclusions, rather than assuming that all forms of wildlife damage are excluded.