The raccoon is a highly adaptable mammal that has become a fixture in many urban and suburban environments across North America. Their masked faces and dextrous paws make them instantly recognizable. While it is understandable to wonder what these animals eat, the most important message for homeowners is a strict prohibition against providing them with any food source. Feeding raccoons, whether intentional or accidental, carries serious public health and ecological consequences that ultimately harm both humans and the animals themselves.
The Natural Foraging Diet of Raccoons
The raccoon is classified as an opportunistic omnivore, meaning its diet is extremely varied and depends entirely on what is most readily available in its environment. In wild habitats, raccoons frequently settle near bodies of water. Their natural diet includes an abundance of aquatic life, such as crayfish, clams, frogs, and fish, which they catch with their sensitive forepaws.
Seasonal variation significantly changes their foraging priorities throughout the year. During the warmer months, their diet is rich in invertebrates like insects, grubs, earthworms, and snails, which provide necessary protein. As summer progresses into fall, raccoons shift their focus to building fat reserves, heavily consuming plant matter like fruits, berries, nuts, and grains, including corn. This gorging is necessary because they enter a state of winter sleep during the coldest periods when food is scarce.
In the winter, they rely primarily on stored body fat, but they will forage for high-fat foods like acorns and corn during warmer spells. They will also prey on small rodents or consume bird eggs and carrion when opportunities arise. This inherent dietary flexibility allows the species to thrive in diverse environments, from deep woods to city centers.
Public Health and Behavioral Risks of Feeding
Introducing human food, even once, severely disrupts a raccoon’s natural behavior and carries significant public health risks. Intentional feeding and easy access to garbage cause the animals to become habituated to humans, resulting in a loss of their innate fear response. This boldness leads to increased property damage, as raccoons are more likely to seek den sites in human structures like attics and chimneys. Habituated raccoons may also display aggression toward pets and humans when defending a concentrated food source.
The most serious concern is the transmission of zoonotic diseases, which are illnesses that spread from animals to people. Raccoons are a primary carrier of Rabies, a viral disease that attacks the central nervous system and is nearly always fatal once symptoms appear. The virus is transmitted through saliva, typically via a bite or scratch. Any change in behavior, such as a normally nocturnal raccoon appearing during the day, may indicate infection.
Another major threat is Raccoon Roundworm, caused by the parasite Baylisascaris procyonis. This roundworm lives in the raccoon’s intestine and sheds millions of microscopic eggs in its feces, which they often deposit in communal areas called latrines. The eggs become infectious after two to four weeks in the environment and are extremely resistant to temperature and disinfection.
If a human or pet accidentally ingests these eggs, the larvae hatch and migrate through the body, causing a condition known as larva migrans. In humans, this can lead to severe neurological damage, blindness, or even death if the larvae invade the central nervous system. Children are at the highest risk because they are more likely to put contaminated objects into their mouths. Concentrated food sources artificially inflate the local raccoon population, accelerating the spread of parasites and diseases among the wildlife community.
Specific Foods That Are Toxic or Physiologically Harmful
While all human food is detrimental to raccoons, certain common household items contain compounds that are directly toxic, causing internal physiological harm. Chocolate, for instance, contains the compound theobromine, and like in dogs, raccoons metabolize this stimulant very slowly. Ingestion can lead to an elevated heart rate, tremors, seizures, and dangerously high blood pressure.
Caffeine found in coffee grounds or tea leaves also acts as a stimulant that stresses the nervous system. Avocado flesh and pits contain persin, a fungicidal toxin that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and heart problems in raccoons. Alcohol, whether from spilled drinks or naturally fermenting fruit, causes acute intoxication, impairing coordination and respiratory function, which can be fatal. Excessive amounts of salt or sugar found in processed snacks can also lead to organ damage or metabolic imbalances.
Practical Methods for Discouraging Raccoon Presence
The most effective way to manage raccoon activity is to eliminate all potential food sources and secure property entry points. Homeowners must use heavy, durable trash cans that have locking lids or are secured with bungee cords. Garbage should be placed at the curb on the morning of collection, rather than the night before, to limit nocturnal foraging time.
Eliminating Food Sources
Outdoor pet food and water bowls should be brought inside overnight, as these are highly attractive to raccoons. If fruit trees are present, fallen fruit must be promptly collected and disposed of. Compost piles should be kept in sealed, wildlife-resistant containers. Cleaning up spilled bird seed is also necessary, as raccoons are drawn to this easy source of calories.
Securing Structures and Deterrents
Preventing raccoons from establishing dens requires a thorough inspection and hardening of the property exterior. Potential entry points must be sealed with heavy-gauge wire mesh or metal flashing, including:
- Uncapped chimneys
- Loose vents
- Openings beneath decks
- Openings beneath porches
Non-lethal deterrents can be used to startle raccoons and make the environment less inviting:
- Motion-activated lights
- Motion-activated sprinklers
- Repellents using strong odors, such as capsaicin
- Repellents using strong odors, such as vinegar