If you have raccoons in your yard, you might be wondering what are they allergic to. You should be aware of some of their common food preferences and avoid giving them any human foods that might cause them harm. Human snacks, such as chewing gum, can cause raccoons to develop serious health problems. They may experience seizures, indigestion, vomiting, and even lose coordination. Other common human foods they should avoid include chips and biscuits, as well as coffee, cocoa, and bread.
Although raccoons do not produce skin flakes that can cause allergies, they may still irritate people who are sensitive to animal proteins. If you are allergic to raccoons, you should not handle them in any way, including petting them. However, if you can’t help but touch a raccoon, you might want to try a small piece of fur.
Raccoon feces are another concern. If ingested, these feces can cause an infection in humans. This can lead to tiredness, loss of coordination, muscle weakness, and coma. If you suspect a raccoon has infected you, contact a health care provider as soon as possible. A raccoon feces infection can cause serious illness if not treated quickly. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical, especially for young children who play outdoors.
Plants in the mint family can repel raccoons. Plants containing peppermint, for example, will smell stronger when they are raccoon-free. Garlic is another common raccoon deterrent, and you can try planting garlic bulbs in the garden or spraying garlic juice around your garden. You should also use pepper spray to repel raccoons. However, you can’t get rid of raccoons completely, but if they are a nuisance, this can be a solution.
While there are no proven rabies vaccines, raccoons are often intoxicated by alcohol. A recent story in the Washington Post describes a rabies scare in West Virginia that resulted in raccoons intoxicated by fermented crab apples. If a raccoon has cat distemper, it could become highly intoxicated and even die before its normal lifespan.
Although there is no single food source for raccoons, their diets are estimated to be about equally divided between invertebrates and plant matter. Raccoons prefer common invertebrates over vertebrates, and their diet is almost identical all year round. Raccoons may also develop a preference for specific foods. If you notice your pet is allergic to something, it may be a good idea to remove it from its living area.
Some other common food sources for raccoons are chocolate and sweets. Unfortunately, both types of chocolate are toxic to raccoons. Dark chocolate is toxic, but milk chocolate is not so harmful. Raccoons are clever, but they are not picky eaters. Fortunately, most pet raccoons do not exhibit any signs of allergy. They enjoy the occasional treat. In addition to chocolate, they will eat trash and human food.
