What Do Raccoons Eat? 9 Foods They Love

The raccoon is one of the most recognizable animals with its striped tail and mask. They often dwell in cities, where they feed on anything from insects to trash! So what do raccoons eat?

The raccoon is an omnivorous animal. Its diet varies depending on what it can find to eat but may include fruits, vegetables, nuts, insects, eggs, small animals, and carrion. Raccoons are known to be good swimmers and climbers. They have nimble front paws to pry open food containers and garbage cans. While raccoons can be pesky critters, they also play an essential role in their environment as a top apex predator, enabling the survival of other species.

The clever raccoon is one of the most adaptable animals around- they can tear apart almost anything in their way and have an endless supply of food. They’re also adorable! With all this going for them, it’s no wonder that people love these furry creatures as pets despite how difficult maintaining a household with two or three might be at first glance. If you’re thinking of getting a raccoon as a pet, you should first know a few things about their diet.

What Do Raccoons Eat?

The raccoon is typically found in wooded areas, but they can be seen exploring urban landscapes for food. If you live near abundant natural resources or have intrusive wildlife regularly entering your property, it may be worth getting professional help to contain their numbers!

Raccoons have a varied diet that includes grains, fruits, nuts, insects, and small animals. They are opportunistic feeders and often turn to human garbage or pet food to survive. Raccoons living close to humans may even be raiding bird feeders for seeds!

In the wild, most of the raccoon’s diet comes from foraging. They will eat just about anything they can get their hands on, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, insects, eggs, and small animals. Raccoons are also skilled swimmers and climbers, which gives them easy access to food that would be off-limits to other animals. The foods that raccoons like to eat are listed below.

1.Fruits: 

Raccoons love to snack on fruit. Even if it’s not meant for animal consumption, they’ll go after any tasty treat on which they can get their paws. Some popular fruit choices for raccoons include grapes, apples, cherries, and berries.

2.Vegetables: 

Raccoons may be omnivores, but they have a particular fondness for vegetables. They’ll eat just about any vegetable, including carrots and corn.

3.Insects: 

Raccoons are also known to eat insects, such as crickets and beetles. They’ll readily snatch up any nasty bugs, including giant cockroaches.

4.Nuts: 

One of the raccoon’s favorite treats is a good nut! Whether it’s an acorn or some other nut, these animals have no problem snacking on them.

5.Frogs & Other Amphibians: 

Raccoons will also eat frogs and other amphibians. They’re not particularly picky when it comes to their meals, so they’ll happily gobble up any frog or toad.

6.Small Rodents: 

Small rodents, such as mice and rats, also move onto the raccoon’s menu. These animals will readily eat any small rodent they can catch, including baby rabbits.

7.Carrion: 

Finally, raccoons are also known to eat carrion when they can find it. This includes the carcasses of smaller animals that have died of natural causes or more oversized prey items that a predator has killed.

8.Crayfish: 

Raccoons living near ponds or slow-moving rivers can sometimes be found feasting on crayfish. These tasty crustaceans are an essential part of the raccoon’s diet, especially in the spring and summer when other foods are less plentiful.

9.Eggs: 

Raccoons will also eat the eggs of birds and other animals. While they prefer not to have to crack open an eggshell, if it’s all they can find, then they’ll make do!

As you can see, there are several different foods that raccoons like to eat. If you want to coexist with these animals successfully, it’s essential to ensure they don’t have access to your garbage or pet food. Raccoons are also known to raid bird feeders, so it’s best to keep them away from your feathered friends.

What Do Baby Raccoons Eat?

Baby raccoons are adorable, but they can be pretty tricky to feed. A baby’s diet consists mainly of mother’s milk until around 16 weeks, when it begins exploring food options with its family and gradually weans off this source over time as maturity continues!

If you find an orphaned baby raccoon, it’s essential to get professional help as soon as possible. These animals need to be hand-raised by experienced caretakers to survive.

While mother’s milk is the best food for a baby raccoon, some commercially-available formulas can be used as a substitute. It’s essential to get the advice of a veterinarian before feeding any formula to a baby raccoon, as they can be very delicate creatures.

Raccoons are omnivores, which means that they eat both plants and animals. In the wild, most of the raccoon’s diet comes from foraging. They eat fruits, vegetables, insects, small rodents, eggs, and other types of prey.

When they are young, baby raccoons rely mostly on mother’s milk for nutrition. As they grow older and become more independent, they begin exploring the different foods in their environment and learning what tastes good.

If you find an orphaned baby raccoon, it’s essential to get them the help they need from an experienced wildlife rehabilitation. With the proper care and nutrition, most baby raccoons can grow up healthy and thrive in the wild. However, it’s important not to try hand-raising a baby raccoon on your own, as these animals are pretty delicate and require specialized care from an experienced professional.

Why Do Raccoons Love Garbage?

One of the most common complaints about raccoons is that they love to rummage through garbage cans. While it’s true that these animals are attracted to trash, there’s a reason behind their behavior. Raccoons are opportunistic eaters, meaning they will eat just about anything they can find. This includes both plant and animal matter, which you can find in garbage cans.

In addition to the food itself, raccoons are also attracted to garbage cans because they can provide shelter and protection from predators. For these nocturnal animals, a dark and quiet place where they can rest during the day is hard to come by. Garbage cans often serve this purpose nicely, so they are such a popular hangout spot for raccoons.

Thus, the main reason raccoons love garbage is that they are hungry and looking for an easy meal. While it may be annoying to have these animals rummaging through your trash cans, there is not much you can do to stop them. Instead, the best thing you can do is take steps to secure your garbage from these curious animals. This may include using heavy-duty lids or securing trash cans with bungee cords or other types of latches.

In addition, it’s important to keep pet food and bird feeders away from raccoons. These animals are attracted to food. They often raid pet food bowls or bird feeders, searching for a meal. By keeping these items out of reach, you can help deter raccoons from coming onto your property in the first place.

Wrapping Up:

Raccoons are fascinating animals, but they can sometimes be a nuisance. If you find an orphaned baby raccoon or have issues with garbage-raiding raccoons, it’s essential to get professional help as soon as possible. With the proper care and nutrition, most baby raccoons will grow healthy and thrive in the wild. By taking steps to secure your garbage from these curious animals, you can help prevent raccoons from becoming a problem on your property.

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