If you’ve ever wondered what do raccoons eat, you’re not alone. Raccoons are common in urban areas and have been known to ply garbage can lids, raid campsites, and turn on water faucets. Although raccoons are typically harmless, humans should not intentionally supply food to these animals. Place pet feeders in an enclosed space where you can keep them out of sight.
Raccoons also eat vegetables, fruit, nuts, and grains. They also eat poultry, small livestock, and snakes. They also eat human garbage. Although they don’t live long in the city, they can live for 20 years or more. Raccoons don’t need to worry about food during the summer, but they do need to store body fat for the winter. In order to keep warm, raccoons wrap their tail around their bodies.
Luckily, raccoons are not as destructive as humans think they are. They can be seen practically anywhere at night and are able to take advantage of any kind of food source. They are particularly adept at identifying food sources and use their claws to catch whatever they can find. In addition to mice, raccoons will eat bird eggs, frogs, and fish. They are opportunistic and adapt their diet to the environment they live in.
While they may be notorious for being incredibly sneaky and unsocial, raccoons can still find food in garbage cans and trash in urban areas. This practice can lead to overweight urban raccoons that may have blood sugar problems. Raccoons don’t mind taking your trash because they can get their fill of food so easily. Nature is all about the path of least resistance, and easy access to food is just too tempting for them.
Unlike their predatory counterparts, urban raccoons are not particularly dangerous. They typically reside in ground burrows or hollow trees, although they can occasionally enter homes. Thankfully, they don’t tend to approach humans unless they feel threatened or harassed. Despite this, they will be less aggressive around people if they have easy access to food. But you should be careful if you want to keep raccoons away from your house.
When it comes to their diet, raccoons are known for eating a variety of rodents, including small mice. These rodents are good sources of protein, vitamins, and minerals, but some are better than others. For example, muskrats aren’t as good a source of nutrients for raccoons, but they prefer to stay in slower moving water. If you see a raccoon in your attic, you’re probably already aware of the dangers these animals pose.
While raccoons are known for their love of sweet corn, they also eat strawberries, peas, and other plant-based food. Raccoons will even eat garbage, so be sure to dispose of it properly. Raccoons are notorious for cleaning out bird feeders. If you notice any of these signs, take the appropriate steps to protect your garden. If you want a pest-free neighborhood, raccoons can be a great nuisance.
