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Raccoons eat a wide variety of foods and this is one of the reasons they have managed to survive in almost any environment. You can find raccoons in dense, untouched forests, city streets, country gardens, and rural farms. These intelligent, adaptable creatures have even managed to charm people with their cute masked faces and their wit. Here’s what they eat closer.
What do raccoons eat in the wild?
Raccoons live in almost every state in the United States, usually they inhabit woodlands and forests. The raccoon prefers to live in a hollow of a tree near a river, pond or other body of water. If there is no hollow in the tree, the raccoon will move to any hollowed out place. At night, they hunt at the water’s edge.
Raccoons love seafood. They catch shellfish, crayfish, frogs, snails, snakes and fish. Raccoons prefer animals that live in shallow water, so they will also eat turtles and snakes if they are easy to catch. However, they eat a balanced diet as they also eat a lot of fruits, wild herbs, seeds, nuts and slugs. Their favorite fruits are cherries, apples, and whatever grows near their den. They are not experienced hunters, but they will try to catch birds or small rodents if other food is scarce. They will also eat bird eggs, larvae and insects.
If they live close to farms, raccoons can raid chicken coops to steal eggs or chickens.
Raccoons in the wild are most eaten in the spring, summer and fall. They do this to make sure they have enough fat on their bodies to survive the winter when food is scarce or the weather prevents them from staying indoors.
Why are they washing food?
Raccoons do not wash their food before they eat it. They get wet to better understand what it is. By placing it in water, they receive sensory information about food. This will let them know if it can be eaten or if it is too rotten. Since raccoons mainly eat aquatic animals, they learn to put their paws in the water and search for food around them. They learn this as little kittens and keep this habit for the rest of their lives.
How Neighborhood Raccoons Eat
Raccoons in the suburbs eat bird food, pet food, and water from fountains or pet bowls. Those who eat trash cans gravitate towards leftover pet food, meat, unhealthy foods, fruits and vegetables. They will eat any food that does not rot or mold.
One of the most interesting things about raccoons is how well they have adapted to life in the human environment. Raccoons are everywhere, and their willingness to eat anything means they are happy to feast on the remains of our trash cans. This adaptability is so interesting that the New York State Department of Environmental Protection once commissioned a study to find out how they do it. A 1986 study looked at how raccoons manage to find food and avoid being hunted or trapped in the suburbs. In fact, wild raccoons usually weigh around 30 pounds, but the average suburban raccoon can weigh up to 60 pounds.
A 2016 National Geographic documentary reports that Toronto has 50 times more raccoons than the surrounding area. The researchers noted that other animal populations, including white-tailed deer, squirrels, Canadian geese and gulls, appear to be thriving despite the growing invasion of their habitat. There may be good reasons for this. In cities and suburbs, there are no large predators that live in forests and eat raccoons. Deer and raccoons are not hunted in the Moscow region.
Sometimes their ability to survive creates problems. Raccoons have been introduced to several countries where they are not native, including Japan. Japan began importing raccoons in the 1970s. They quickly turned into invasive pests that damaged buildings and native species. Raccoons imported to Germany flooded the countryside there. The only way out was to destroy the raccoon populations in both countries.
This is another warning that species import is rarely a good idea. Non-native animals and plants often become invasive and destroy local ecosystems.
Like all animals, raccoons are best left in their natural habitat, even if these are suburban lawns and streets.
Do they really like garbage or dirty food?
The idea that raccoons love dirty food is popular, but not true. They just eat food that we think is garbage, but it is perfectly good. In their opinion, we are wasting perfectly good food, for example, a few pieces of meat on the bone or some kind of fruit that starts to soften. They are picky about their food, so they use water to get information about it.
In the wild and in the suburbs, raccoons are lazy. They are not hunters and do not want to fish for hours in deep water. They like food that is easy to catch. Eating leftovers is a quick, easy, effortless snack.
What do raccoons eat in captivity?
In a zoo or wildlife sanctuary, the raccoon will eat a diet consistent with its natural diet. It will include slugs, worms, fruits, berries, seeds, fish and eggs. They can be fed with chicken or specially processed raccoon food. They will also have one bowl of water for drinking and another for soaking food.
Are there foods they cannot eat?
Although raccoons are omnivorous, there are some things they cannot eat:
- Chocolate, onions, raisins, and macadamia nuts are toxic to raccoons.
- Garlic and bread are not toxic, but they can disrupt the digestion of a raccoon.
- Coffee, cocoa, and candy can cause health problems in raccoons.
Who eats raccoons?
Larger predators such as coyotes, lynxes, and cougars hunt raccoons in the wild. Some people ate raccoons as well. So a raccoon got into the White House.
In 1926, President Calvin Coolidge received a live raccoon as a gift. The raccoon was supposed to be part of the president’s Thanksgiving dinner, but Coolidge refused to kill her. Instead, he and his family adopted her as a pet raccoon and named her Rebecca.
Rebecca became the darling of the family, especially First Lady Grace Coolidge. They built a tree house for her and gave her complete freedom of action on the grounds of the White House. When the Coolidges left the White House, Rebecca moved to live at the Rock Creek Zoo, which is now the Washington DC Zoo.
Nature’s food sources
Raccoons can be the best food seekers in nature. Their willingness to eat almost anything, and their ability to find good food in the trash heap has helped them adapt and survive where other animals would have difficulty. Whether they’re in wild forests or in your backyard, a raccoon is sure to find some good food.
Next: Golden Eagle vs. Bald Eagle: 8 Key Differences
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Are raccoons carnivores, herbivores or omnivores?
They are omnivorous. Raccoons eat almost everything, but it is not true that they eat real garbage or rotting food.
Do raccoons suffer from rabies?
Not all raccoons are infected with rabies. Because they are nocturnal, many people mistakenly think that any raccoon you see during the day is rabid. It is not true. If you see a raccoon during the day, it may be hungry or looking for a new den.
Your chance of contracting rabies is low. According to the Centers for Disease Control, between 1 and 3 cases of human rabies are reported annually in the United States.
Are raccoons dangerous to humans?
Raccoons have learned to live among humans without causing much harm, other than overturning trash cans and infecting attics. They are not pets, however, and raccoons can fight violently if attacked or threatened. They have sharp claws and teeth and can cause serious harm to animals and humans.
Raccoons are also carriers of several diseases that they can transmit to humans. Along with foxes, skunks, and bats, they are one of four species that can carry rabies. Raccoons are also carriers of giardiasis and roundworm parasites that live in their feces.
If you need to grab raccoons, use protective clothing and gloves. Wash your hands and clothing thoroughly after handling them.
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