Raccoons in the Wild
Raccoons are highly adaptable omnivores. Their diet in the wild is diverse, shifting with seasons and food availability. This flexibility allows them to thrive in various environments, from forests to coastal marshes.
In spring and early summer, raccoons prioritize protein-rich foods like insects and small animals. Their diet includes crayfish, frogs, fish, snails, clams, and various insects like grubs, beetles, and earthworms. In late summer and autumn, their focus shifts to fruits, berries, nuts, and grains, providing essential calories for building fat reserves before winter. Common plant-based foods include acorns, beechnuts, corn, wild grapes, cherries, and apples.
Raccoons are not active hunters of large prey, preferring food that is easier to catch or scavenge. They consume bird eggs, young birds, small mammals like mice, rats, and squirrels, and even carrion. Their dexterous front paws allow them to forage effectively, especially for aquatic prey in shallow waters. This varied diet ensures they obtain necessary nutrients for health and survival.
Raccoons in Your Neighborhood
In suburban or urban environments, raccoons’ diet adapts significantly to human-influenced food sources. These opportunistic feeders exploit readily available provisions in residential areas, often supplementing or replacing their natural diet. The convenience of human-provided food can outweigh their instinct to forage for wild fare.
Discarded human food in garbage cans and dumpsters is a common source for urban raccoons. They are skilled at opening containers and consume a variety of leftovers, from meat scraps to bread, fruits, and vegetables. Pet food left outdoors is another frequent target, as are bird feeders and scattered birdseed. Raccoons also raid gardens for produce like corn, melons, and other fruits and vegetables.
This shift in diet can lead to changes in their physiology. Studies suggest that urban raccoons with greater access to human food waste may be heavier and exhibit higher blood glucose levels compared to their wild counterparts. Their adaptability highlights their ability to thrive alongside human populations. However, relying on human food can also have consequences for their health and natural behaviors.
Protecting Raccoons and Your Property
Feeding raccoons, intentionally or not, can lead to negative outcomes for both animals and humans. A consistent food source can make raccoons dependent on humans, diminishing their natural foraging skills and increasing reliance on easily accessible, often unhealthy, food. This dependency can lead to overpopulation, intensifying resource competition and potentially fostering more aggressive behaviors.
Certain human foods are detrimental to raccoon health. Chocolate, cocoa, caffeine, onions, garlic, and avocados are toxic to raccoons. Raisins can also cause illness. Processed foods, sugary treats, and items high in salt are not suitable for raccoons, as they can lead to digestive issues, obesity, and other health problems. Raccoons can also carry diseases transmissible to humans and pets, such as rabies, raccoon roundworm, leptospirosis, and salmonella, increasing the risk of exposure through close contact.
Securing potential food sources is effective to deter raccoons and protect your property. Use raccoon-proof trash cans with locking lids or secure them with bungee cords. Storing trash in a garage or shed until collection day can also prevent access. Bringing pet food indoors at night and cleaning up fallen fruit from trees are important steps. For gardens, fencing, motion-activated lights or sprinklers, and strong-smelling repellents like ammonia or cayenne pepper can help deter them.