Raccoons frequently interact with human environments, and a common question arises regarding their feeding habits: do raccoons eat trash? Raccoons do indeed consume discarded human food, a behavior stemming from their highly adaptable nature and opportunistic feeding strategies. This allows them to thrive in diverse settings, including densely populated urban areas.
Understanding Raccoon Feeding Habits
Raccoons are omnivores, meaning their natural diet consists of both plant and animal matter. In their natural habitats, these animals consume a wide variety of foods, including fruits, nuts, insects, small mammals like rodents, birds, fish, crayfish, amphibians, and carrion. This broad dietary range allows them to adapt to different food availabilities across seasons and environments.
Their opportunistic nature and remarkable intelligence enable them to exploit new food sources effectively. Raccoons are known for their problem-solving abilities, capable of remembering solutions to tasks for at least three years. This cognitive skill, combined with their dexterity, allows them to navigate complex challenges, such as accessing secured food containers.
Urban environments present a concentrated and accessible food supply that raccoons readily utilize. Discarded human food in trash bins often provides a high-calorie alternative to foraging in the wild. Raccoons are especially attracted to the smells emanating from garbage, using their keen sense of smell to locate potential meals.
Raccoons possess extremely dexterous front paws, which function much like human hands. This dexterity allows them to manipulate objects, pry open loose lids, untie knots, and even open jars in their quest for food. The combination of their intelligence, adaptability, and physical capabilities makes them highly effective at exploiting human-generated food waste.
Strategies for Securing Trash
To prevent raccoons from accessing discarded food, using sturdy, animal-proof trash cans equipped with locking lids is an effective measure. These specialized bins are designed to be difficult for raccoons to open, providing a robust barrier against their attempts. Investing in such containers can significantly reduce instances of overturned trash.
Securing existing bins with bungee cords or weights also helps keep lids tightly closed. Stretching a bungee cord across the lid and attaching it to the handles or sides of the trash can can create a seal that raccoons struggle to bypass. Ensuring the lids fit snugly and the cords are fastened tightly adds another layer of protection.
Timing the placement of trash for collection can also deter raccoons. Since raccoons are nocturnal, placing trash out on the morning of collection day, rather than the night before, minimizes the time it is accessible to them. This simple change in routine can prevent overnight raiding.
Reducing food odors is another practical step. Washing out food containers, such as cans, bottles, and plastic tubs, before disposal can diminish their appeal to raccoons. This practice removes residual food particles and scents that attract these animals, making trash less tempting.
Preventing raccoons from accessing outdoor pet food and water bowls is also important. Pet food left outside, especially overnight, serves as an easy and consistent food source, drawing raccoons to the property. Bringing pet food indoors after feeding times and ensuring water bowls are not left out can remove this attractant.