The common raccoon (Procyon lotor) is a highly adaptable, opportunistic omnivore often found in human environments. Raccoons are drawn to residential areas not only by refuse but also by vegetation that provides a reliable, seasonal food source. Understanding the specific plant matter that attracts raccoons is the first step property owners can take to mitigate unwanted nocturnal visits. The presence of certain plants signals an easy meal, making a yard an appealing foraging ground.
Garden Produce and Fruit Trees
Raccoons are attracted to cultivated plants that offer high sugar content and easily accessible calories. Sweet corn is a notorious target, particularly when the kernels are in the “milky stage” just before harvest. Raccoons possess the dexterity to peel back the husks and consume the tender kernels, often leaving damaged stalks bent to the ground. Melons, such as cantaloupe and watermelon, are also appealing, as raccoons will puncture the thick rind to scoop out the sweet flesh inside.
Soft, ripe fruit is a major factor, including garden staples like grapes and soft squashes. Ripe berries, such as raspberries and blackberries, can be stripped from the bush in a single night. Tree fruits, whether still on the branch or fallen to the ground, are highly sought after, especially as autumn approaches. Apples, plums, peaches, and cherries offer a dense, sugary meal for raccoons building fat reserves. The presence of overripe or damaged fruit on the ground serves as a powerful attractant.
Seed and Nut-Bearing Plants
Plants that produce high-fat, energy-dense seeds and nuts are significant attractants, motivating raccoons to forage extensively. Seeds from common ornamental plants, particularly sunflowers, provide an easily processed source of fat and protein. Raccoons frequently target bird feeders containing sunflower seeds, nuts, and grains, often knocking the feeder to the ground to access the high-calorie contents.
Trees that drop hard-shelled nuts are also major draws, offering concentrated energy sources. Oak trees that produce acorns and nut trees like walnuts and pecans are highly valued by foraging animals. While nuts are the primary target, raccoons may also dig up newly planted seeds or bulbs in garden beds while searching for other food sources.
Plants That Provide Indirect Food Sources
Some plants attract raccoons not for the plant matter itself, but for the invertebrate life they harbor within the soil. Turf grass, particularly lawns infested with larvae like the European Chafer beetle, becomes a prime feeding ground. Raccoons use their sensitive front paws to detect grubs just beneath the surface, resulting in significant digging and rolling back of the sod to access the protein-rich insects.
Dense ground covers, such as ivy or pachysandra, and thick shrubbery also indirectly attract raccoons by creating an ideal habitat for worms and other invertebrates. The moist, dark conditions beneath these plants are perfect for attracting insects that form a regular part of a raccoon’s diet. Furthermore, dense, woody plants and thickets offer secure cover and shelter, making the yard a safer place for nocturnal animals to rest and raise their young.