Raccoons are recognized across North America for their masked faces and highly resourceful nature. As opportunistic omnivores, these creatures possess an extraordinary ability to adapt their diet to nearly any environment, from dense forests to bustling urban centers. This dietary flexibility allows them to survive in a wide variety of habitats by consuming whatever sustenance is most readily available. They shift feeding strategies seasonally to maximize caloric intake throughout the year.
The Raccoon’s Baseline Diet in the Wild
In natural, undeveloped environments, the raccoon’s diet is heavily influenced by proximity to water and seasonal availability. They are particularly fond of aquatic fare, using their nimble front paws to forage for crayfish, clams, frogs, and fish near stream banks and shallow water.
A significant portion of their diet consists of invertebrates, such as earthworms, slugs, grubs, and various beetles, which they dig out of the soil or leaf litter. They also consume plant matter like wild berries, grapes, and nuts, particularly acorns, which are high in fat and help them build reserves for winter. Raccoons also prey on small animals, including mice, voles, and the eggs and young of ground-nesting birds, providing a necessary source of protein.
High-Value Urban Attractants
The raccoon’s opportunistic nature finds its greatest reward in human-populated areas, where food sources are calorie-dense and easily accessible. Unsecured garbage is the highest-value attractant, providing a buffet of discarded meats, dairy, and sugary scraps that require minimal effort to obtain. The potent, mixed odors emanating from a full trash can—a combination of fat and sugar—acts as a powerful beacon for a nocturnal forager.
Outdoor pet food, specifically dry dog and cat kibble, is a prime target due to its high fat and protein content. Bird feeders containing seeds and suet cakes offer another concentrated source of energy, and raccoons easily climb posts or poles to reach them. Residue left on outdoor grills, including grease, drippings, and charred leftovers, provides an irresistible, strong-smelling snack that draws them directly onto patios and decks.
Cultivated Produce and Garden Targets
Raccoons are especially drawn to cultivated gardens and orchards, exhibiting a strong preference for sweet, ripe produce. Among all garden crops, sweet corn is arguably their most desired item; they systematically strip the husks to consume the milky kernels just before the ears reach full maturity. Targeting the ripest ears often results in extensive damage to an entire corn patch.
Their sweet tooth extends to various vine and tree fruits. They readily consume watermelons, cantaloupes, and pumpkins, often biting into multiple items to sample the ripeness. Other favorites include tomatoes, cherries, grapes, apples, and berries, which provide a burst of natural sugar and hydration during the warmer months.
Foods That Are Harmful or Detrimental to Raccoons
While raccoons can eat nearly anything, some common human foods are chemically detrimental to their health. Chocolate and cocoa products contain theobromine and caffeine, stimulants that raccoons, like dogs, cannot metabolize efficiently, leading to potential heart and nervous system issues. Allium vegetables such as onions, garlic, and chives contain sulfoxides and disulfides that can damage a raccoon’s red blood cells, potentially causing a condition known as hemolytic anemia.
Avocados contain a fungicidal toxin called persin, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and heart problems in some small mammals. Feeding raccoons highly processed human junk food, which is often loaded with excessive salt and sugar, can cause obesity and long-term digestive problems. Direct feeding by humans is also detrimental because it creates an unnatural dependency, leading to a loss of natural foraging instincts and habituation to people, which can increase the risk of disease transmission and conflict.