Raccoons, with their distinctive masked faces and ringed tails, are common wildlife found across diverse landscapes. These adaptable creatures often share spaces with humans, leading to potential interactions with domestic animals. Understanding their natural behaviors and dietary habits is important for protecting household pets, particularly vulnerable young ones like kittens.
Raccoon Diet and Predatory Behavior
Raccoons are highly adaptable omnivores, consuming both plant and animal matter. Their food sources include fruits, nuts, grains, insects, crayfish, amphibians, small rodents, and bird eggs. This diverse diet allows them to thrive in various habitats, including those near human dwellings. Their foraging habits are opportunistic, as they consume readily available food.
Raccoons are capable predators, preying on small, vulnerable animals. Kittens, being small and largely defenseless, can be seen as an easy food source, especially if left unattended outdoors. While direct predation on kittens may not be their primary food source, it can occur when other food resources are scarce or if kittens are easily accessible. Raccoons are intelligent and resourceful hunters, often using their agility and sharp claws to capture prey.
Safeguarding Kittens from Raccoons
Protecting kittens from raccoons involves minimizing opportunities for interaction and removing attractants from your property. Keeping kittens indoors, especially during nighttime hours when raccoons are most active, is the most effective preventative measure. This step eliminates direct exposure to potential threats.
Securing food sources is also important for deterring raccoons. Pet food and water bowls left outside, particularly overnight, can act as strong attractants. Bringing pet food indoors after feeding times and ensuring outdoor areas are clean of any scraps will help prevent raccoons from visiting your yard. Trash cans should be secured with locking lids or bungee cords, or stored in a garage or shed to prevent raccoons from rummaging through them.
Removing potential den sites and entry points around your home can also deter raccoons. This includes sealing openings to attics, crawlspaces, and sheds, and removing brush piles or other clutter that could offer shelter. Motion-activated lights or sprinklers can startle and discourage raccoons from lingering. Scent-based deterrents like peppermint oil, cayenne pepper, or ammonia can also be used, though these may require frequent reapplication.