Raccoons are a common sight in many urban and suburban environments, known for their distinctive masked faces and adaptable nature. Their presence often sparks questions about their behavior, particularly whether these wild animals pose a threat to humans. Understanding their true habits and potential interactions is important for living safely alongside them.
Understanding Raccoon Diet and Behavior
Raccoons are highly adaptable omnivores, meaning their diet consists of both plant and animal matter. They primarily consume fruits, berries, nuts, corn, and grains, supplementing this with insects, worms, and small animals like mice, voles, shrews, and bird eggs. Their foraging habits also extend to aquatic life such as crayfish, frogs, fish, and clams, especially near water sources. Raccoons are opportunistic scavengers, readily utilizing human refuse from trash cans, gardens, and unattended pet food in urban areas.
These nocturnal animals prefer to avoid human confrontation, exhibiting a shy demeanor. Despite their presence in populated areas, their first instinct when encountering a human is to flee. Raccoons are intelligent creatures that have adapted to diverse environments, including those impacted by human expansion.
When Raccoons Become Aggressive
While raccoons avoid humans, they can exhibit aggression under specific circumstances; this is typically a defensive response, not a predatory one. Raccoons may become aggressive if they feel threatened or cornered, especially by a human. A mother raccoon will defend her young if she perceives them to be in danger. Defensive behaviors include arching their back, puffing up fur, elevating their tail, and making vocalizations such as growls, shrieks, or hisses.
Aggression can also stem from defending food sources, particularly when scarce. Raccoons may also display uncharacteristic aggression or disorientation if sick, especially with rabies. In such cases, their behavior can be erratic and unpredictable.
Health Risks Associated with Raccoons
Raccoons can transmit several diseases to humans, primarily through indirect contact or bites. Rabies is a serious viral disease that raccoons are known carriers of, transmissible through the saliva of an infected animal, usually via bites or scratches. Once symptoms appear in humans, rabies is almost always fatal, emphasizing the importance of immediate medical attention after potential exposure. While raccoons are common carriers, not all raccoons have rabies, and seeing one during the day does not automatically mean it is rabid.
Another significant health concern is Baylisascaris procyonis, commonly known as raccoon roundworm. Humans can contract this parasitic infection by ingesting microscopic eggs found in raccoon feces, which can contaminate soil or objects. Though rare, Baylisascariasis can be severe, potentially causing neurological damage, blindness, or organ issues as the larvae migrate through the body. Leptospirosis, a bacterial infection carried by raccoons, can spread through contact with their urine or feces, potentially leading to fever, muscle aches, and kidney or liver problems.
Safe Practices Around Raccoons
To minimize negative interactions and ensure safety, it is important to implement practical measures when raccoons are present. Avoid feeding raccoons, as this can make them accustomed to humans and increase their presence around homes. Securing trash cans with tight-fitting lids or bungee cords helps prevent raccoons from accessing food waste. Keeping pet food indoors, especially overnight, also removes an attractive food source.
Sealing potential entry points into homes, such as holes in siding, uncapped chimneys, or open vents, prevents raccoons from seeking shelter inside. If a raccoon is encountered, maintaining a safe distance and avoiding direct eye contact is advised. If the animal appears sick, injured, or unusually aggressive, contact local animal control or a wildlife professional for assistance rather than attempting to handle it yourself.