Raccoons are adaptable omnivores, consuming both plant and animal matter. While often associated with scavenging human food scraps, plants form a significant part of their natural diet, especially during specific seasons. Their foraging habits allow them to utilize available resources in both wild and urban environments.
Common Plant-Based Foods
Raccoons eat many plant-based foods, especially during warmer months when resources are abundant. Fruits are a favored category, including apples, peaches, pears, grapes, cherries, mulberries, and various berries like blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries. The high sugar content in ripe fruits makes them a desirable food source.
Vegetables also contribute to their diet, notably sweet corn. They consume peas, beans, potatoes, squash, tomatoes, carrots, and pumpkins. Beyond fresh produce, raccoons seek calorie-dense nuts such as acorns, walnuts, pecans, beechnuts, and sunflower seeds, particularly in the fall to build fat reserves for winter. Grains like oats, wheat, and rice are also part of their varied plant diet.
Targeted Plant Parts and Stages
Raccoons prefer specific plant parts and stages of maturity. They prefer ripe fruits over unripe ones, often taking a few bites from multiple fruits rather than consuming a single one whole. For corn, raccoons target the kernels, toppling stalks and tearing open ears to access the sweet interior. They also eat seeds from gourds and prefer mature beans over immature ones, grabbing pods directly from the plant. This selective foraging allows them to obtain the most nutritious and palatable components.
Plants Raccoons Generally Avoid
While raccoons are opportunistic, certain plants are less appealing due to strong odors, textures, or potential toxicity. Plants with pungent smells, such as mint varieties (peppermint and spearmint), garlic, and onions, can deter raccoons. Hot peppers, including chili, red, and jalapeño peppers, contain capsaicin, a compound raccoons find highly irritating, causing them to avoid these plants.
Texture also plays a role; raccoons tend to avoid prickly or thorny plants like squash vines, rose bushes, and globe thistles, as these are uncomfortable for their paws. While some sources suggest raccoons avoid acidic plants like tomatoes, other reports indicate they do consume them. Plants toxic to raccoons, such as chocolate, raisins, and macadamia nuts, should not be intentionally used for deterrence. No plant offers a 100% guarantee against raccoon foraging, but incorporating less attractive options can help reduce their presence.