The raccoon (Procyon lotor) is a mammal whose masked face is a common sight across North America, thriving in environments from dense forests to busy urban centers. Its ability to flourish in diverse settings is linked to its flexible foraging behavior and diet. Understanding what this species consumes involves examining its nutritional choices in both wild landscapes and cultivated human gardens. This article explores the plant matter that attracts raccoons and the reasons behind their dietary preferences.
The Raccoon Diet Structure
Raccoons are omnivores, incorporating a wide array of both plant and animal matter, which allows them to thrive almost anywhere. While they consume insects, small animals, fish, and eggs, plant material often constitutes a significant portion of their total food intake. They prioritize food sources that are easy to access and energy-dense, seeking maximum caloric return for minimum effort. The specific composition of their diet shifts dramatically depending on the local environment and the season. The plant portion of their diet is primarily selected for its high carbohydrate and sugar content, which provides the rapid energy necessary for their nocturnal activities. In some regions, studies have shown that plant material can make up nearly 60% of their overall food volume.
Garden Vegetables and Fruits They Target
When a raccoon enters a garden, it seeks soft, high-sugar produce that offers easily digestible energy. Sweet corn is a famous target, with raccoons often peeling back the husks to eat the kernels in the milky, pre-harvest stage. They also target various fruits and berries:
- Vine-ripened tomatoes, which they may partially eat or simply crush.
- Melons, such as cantaloupe and watermelon. A raccoon will often claw open the thick rind to scrape out the sweet, moist interior.
- Berries, including strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries. A group of raccoons can strip a patch in a single night.
- Domestic fruit trees, as they are adept climbers and will raid apples, peaches, plums, and cherries.
Plants Raccoons Avoid
Certain plant characteristics act as natural deterrents. Plants with strong, pungent aromas are often bypassed because raccoons rely heavily on their sense of smell to locate food. Herbs like garlic, onions, and mint release volatile compounds that overwhelm the raccoon’s sensitive olfactory system. Plants that feature a bitter or spicy taste also act as an effective repellent, such as those that naturally produce capsaicin like cayenne and chili peppers. Another physical deterrent is texture, which explains why raccoons tend to avoid squash plants, like zucchini and pumpkins, due to the prickly or fuzzy nature of their leaves and vines.
Natural Foraging and Wild Plant Consumption
Beyond the garden, raccoons rely on uncultivated flora. Hard mast becomes a particularly important food source in the fall. They actively forage for acorns, hickory nuts, and walnuts, which are rich in fats and proteins that help them build up the fat reserves needed for winter dormancy. Wild berries and fruits are also a staple of their natural diet during the warmer seasons, including wild grapes, persimmons, and hackberries, which offer a high-carbohydrate energy boost. The raccoon’s diet fluctuates throughout the year based on the seasonal availability of these resources in their local habitat.