Raccoons are highly adaptable omnivores, known for their distinctive masked faces and dexterous paws. Their diet is remarkably varied, allowing them to thrive in diverse environments across North America. This dietary versatility is a significant factor in their widespread success.
Natural Foraging Habits
Raccoons are opportunistic foragers, consuming a wide array of foods depending on seasonal availability, including plant materials such as fruits, berries, nuts (acorns, beechnuts), and grains (corn, oats). These plant-based foods are particularly important in late summer and autumn, helping raccoons build fat reserves for winter. They also frequently prey on aquatic life like crayfish, frogs, fish, snails, and clams, often foraging near water sources. Invertebrates like insects, grubs, and worms are staples, alongside small mammals like mice, voles, and shrews. Bird eggs and young birds are also part of their diet, though raccoons generally prefer easier-to-catch prey.
Raccoons in Human Environments
Raccoons adapt remarkably to human-populated areas, where food sources are readily available. In urban and suburban settings, their diet frequently includes items scavenged from garbage cans and dumpsters, such as discarded human food, meat, and pet food. This opportunistic behavior makes them frequent visitors to residential properties. Beyond trash, raccoons exploit other human-provided food sources like outdoor pet food, bird feeders, and garden produce (corn, melons, berries). The convenience and abundance of these food items can lead raccoons to prioritize them over their natural diet, influencing their presence and behavior in proximity to people.
Foods to Avoid Giving Raccoons
Certain human foods are harmful to raccoons, leading to health problems and behavioral changes. Chocolate, cocoa, and coffee contain toxic theobromine and caffeine, causing increased heart rates, nervous system distress, seizures, or death. Avocados contain persin, which can induce vomiting, diarrhea, and heart problems, while onions, garlic, and other alliums have disulfides and sulfoxides that damage red blood cells, leading to anemia. Processed human foods, high in sugar, salt, and fat, cause digestive issues, obesity, and other health problems, as raccoons’ smaller bodies are more susceptible to these negative effects. Feeding raccoons also leads to habituation, where they lose their natural fear of humans, potentially causing aggression or dependence on handouts, harming their well-being and increasing human interaction.
Securing Your Property from Raccoon Foraging
To deter raccoons from foraging on your property, limit their access to food sources by securing trash cans with tight-fitting, locking lids or bungee cords, or storing garbage in a garage or shed until collection day. Bring pet food indoors at night, as leaving it outside provides an easy meal. Bird feeders attract raccoons; consider using baffles on poles or bringing feeders in at night to prevent access. For gardens, install sturdy fencing that extends below ground or use motion-activated sprinklers to discourage access to produce. Compost bins should be animal-proof, with secure lids and reinforced hardware cloth or wire mesh buried around the perimeter to prevent digging and climbing.