Raccoons possess sharp teeth highly effective for both tearing and crushing, a design perfectly suited to their adaptable lifestyle. The raccoon has a dental structure that reflects its status as a generalist feeder able to thrive in diverse environments, including urban areas. Their dentition is a versatile biological tool, allowing them to process a wide variety of food sources encountered in their scavenging and hunting activities. This combination of piercing and grinding surfaces is a defining trait of omnivores, enabling them to exploit nearly any available sustenance.
The Raccoon Dental Structure
Raccoons typically have a total of 40 teeth, following a dental formula characteristic of many omnivorous mammals. This full set includes four distinct types of teeth, each serving a specialized purpose. The most prominent and sharpest teeth are the four long, pointed canines. These canines are the primary source of the animal’s sharp-toothed reputation, designed to pierce and hold prey. The front of the mouth contains small incisors, which serve to nip and strip materials from food items.
Further back, the teeth transition to premolars and molars, which are adapted for processing tougher foods. Unlike the shearing, blade-like carnassial teeth found in strict carnivores, a raccoon’s molars are wide and feature circular, conical cusps. This structure, known as bunodont dentition, is built for crushing and grinding.
How Teeth Aid an Omnivorous Diet
The morphology of the raccoon’s teeth directly supports its highly adaptable, omnivorous diet. The long, pointed canines are used for seizing and dispatching small prey, such as frogs, insects, or small rodents. They are also used for tearing into the flesh or tougher outer rinds of foods. Their ability to deliver a puncture is what makes their bite a concern for human and pet safety.
In the back of the jaw, the broad molars are employed for masticating plant matter, nuts, and hard-shelled invertebrates. These crushing teeth allow the raccoon to break down the shells of crayfish, crack open nuts and acorns, and grind up berries and corn. This dual-purpose dentition enables them to efficiently consume everything from crustaceans to scavenged plant materials, ensuring their survival across varied habitats.
Preventing Bites and Ensuring Safety
While raccoons possess sharp teeth, they are naturally shy and will typically retreat from human contact, only biting when they feel threatened or cornered. Provocation, such as attempting to handle a raccoon or getting too close to a mother with young, is the most common trigger for a defensive bite. Their bite force quotient (BFQ), a measure of bite strength relative to size, is notably high, around 100, which is stronger than a domestic cat’s, underscoring the potential severity of an attack.
The most significant health concern associated with a raccoon bite is the transmission of rabies, as raccoons are one of the most frequent terrestrial carriers of the virus. Because of this risk, it is important to never approach or feed wild raccoons, even if they appear friendly or calm. Securing outdoor trash cans with tight-fitting lids and avoiding leaving pet food outside are effective ways to minimize interaction. If a bite occurs, thoroughly washing the wound with soap and water and seeking immediate medical attention is necessary due to the possibility of rabies exposure.