Raccoons are common mammals recognized by their distinctive black masks and bushy, ringed tails, often seen in backyard settings across North America. These adaptable creatures frequently venture into human-inhabited areas. Raccoons do indeed eat apples, and they are quite fond of them.
Raccoons and Apples
Raccoons are drawn to apples primarily due to the fruit’s sweetness, especially when ripe. Apples offer a readily available energy source, beneficial for raccoons building fat reserves during late summer and fall. While they may initially consume fallen fruit, raccoons are adept climbers and will ascend trees to access apples still on the branches. Raccoons use their highly dexterous front paws, which function much like hands, to manipulate and consume the fruit. They often take several bites from an apple before moving on to another, potentially damaging numerous fruits in a single foraging session.
A Broader Look at Raccoon Diets
Raccoons are omnivorous, meaning their diet includes a wide range of both plant and animal matter. Their feeding habits are adaptable and influenced by seasonal availability and their immediate environment. In natural settings, their diet includes invertebrates (crayfish, insects, worms, snails), various fruits (berries, cherries, peaches, plums, melons), nuts (acorns, beechnuts), grains (corn), and small animals (frogs, fish, bird eggs, rodents, amphibians). In urban environments, raccoons frequently scavenge for discarded human food, including garbage, pet food left outdoors, and birdseed.
Strategies for Protecting Your Fruit
Protecting fruit from raccoons involves methods aimed at deterring their access and reducing attractants. Prompt harvesting of ripe fruit limits what is available to them. Regularly remove fallen fruit from the ground, as this acts as an open invitation for raccoons. Secure trash cans with tight-fitting lids or bungee cords to prevent them from accessing an easy food source. Avoiding leaving pet food or birdseed outdoors, especially overnight, further reduces attractants.
Physical barriers are an effective defense. Sturdy fences at least four feet high, with the bottom buried six inches deep, deter burrowing. For fruit trees, install metal or PVC covers around the trunk, extending at least three feet high, to prevent raccoons from climbing. Trimming tree limbs to prevent them from reaching nearby structures or other trees also limits access. Motion-activated sprinklers or lights can startle raccoons, while strong scents like hot pepper, garlic, mint, or predator urine may act as deterrents.