Raccoons are cunning eaters, munching on everything from fruits and insects to small animals and human food scraps. From urban garbage cans to backwoods hollow trees, these masked bandits will take advantage of any edible opportunity.
What Do Raccoons Eat? You Won’t Be Surprised
Raccoons are known for their cleverness and adaptability, making them one of the most diverse eaters in the animal kingdom. From urban garbage cans to backwoods hollow trees, these masked bandits will take advantage of any edible opportunity.
Raccoons are highly adaptable mammals native to North America.
They have distinctive black-and-white markings on their faces and bushy tails.
These intelligent animals are omnivores, feeding on insects, fruits, nuts, and small animals.
Raccoons are skilled climbers and often raid garbage cans in search of food.
They are also known for their dexterous hands, which they use to manipulate objects and open shells.
In the wild, raccoons typically live 2-3 years, but some have been known to survive up to 5 years.
The Omnivorous Diet of Raccoons
As omnivores, raccoons have a diet that includes both plant material and animals. In the wild, they typically munch on:
Raccoons are opportunistic omnivores, which means they eat a wide variety of foods including fruits, 'berries' , vegetables, insects, small animals, and pet food.
Their diet consists mainly of 40-60% plant matter, such as nuts and seeds, while also consuming 30-40% animal matter like insects, eggs, and small vertebrates.
Raccoons have been known to raid gardens, crops, and garbage cans in search of food, making them a common nuisance in urban areas.
In the wild, they play a crucial role in dispersing seeds and maintaining ecosystem balance.
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Fruits like apples, berries, and grapes
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Vegetables and nuts
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Insects such as beetles and grasshoppers
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Small animals including frogs, crayfish, and the occasional fish
While raccoons will occasionally hunt other animals, they are more likely to scavenge for food in their natural habitats.
Urban Raccoons Love Human Food
In urban areas, raccoons have become skilled at raiding trash bins and open garbage cans. Their nimble paws and problem-solving smarts allow them to access a wide range of human food sources, including:
Raccoons are highly adaptable mammals that have thrived in urban environments.
They are intelligent and resourceful, often raiding trash cans and gardens to find food.
Urban raccoons can carry diseases such as rabies and distemper, posing a risk to human health.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, urbanization has led to an increase in raccoon populations worldwide.
In the United States alone, it's estimated that over 10 million raccoons live in cities and towns.
- Pizza crusts
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Sandwich scraps
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Fruit peels
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‘any item that smells delicious’
This access to human food provides urban raccoons with a vast buffet, but it also brings risks for both the raccoons and other wildlife in residential areas.
From Milk to Solid Food
Baby raccoons start life nursing on their mother’s milk, but by around 8 weeks old, they begin experimenting with new textures and flavors. They’ll nibble on bugs, fruits, and whatever their mother raccoons bring back to the den.
By 12 weeks old, baby raccoons can eat solid food and may tag along with mom on foraging trips as mating season winds down and focus shifts to growing up strong.
The Picky Eaters
Raccoons are not picky eaters at all. They’re curious, tactile, and led by their sensitive front paws – think of them as furry five-fingered food testers. Their nocturnal habits allow them to forage at night when the world is quiet and trash cans are ripe for the picking.
Detering Raccoons from Your Home
If raccoons have turned your backyard into their personal diner, don’t panic. You can prevent them from freeloading with a few smart moves:
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Secure garbage cans with raccoon-proof lids
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Bring pet food indoors at night
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Keep bird feeders high and hard to reach
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Seal entry points to crawl spaces and attics
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Trim tree branches near your roof
A little effort goes a long way in helping raccoons find dinner in the woods – not in your kitchen.
- howstuffworks.com | What Do Raccoons Eat? You Wont Be Surprised
