What Kind of Food Do Raccoons Enjoy?
The raccoon is one of the most readily recognized wild animals in North America. In the wild, their diet consists of fruits, vegetables, fish, rodents and crustaceans. Close proximity to humans have also turned them to raiding trash and being fed by people.
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Background
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The raccoon (Procyon lotor) is most well known for it's ringed, bushy tail and black mask, making it one of the most recognized wild animals. It is about the size of a small dog, growing as large as 35 pounds. Its front feet are separated into fingers, which permit manipulation of its prey items. The hind feet are also distinctive, being long and narrow, making their tracks in soft mud distinctive.
Natural Food
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In the wild, raccoons eat a varied diet. They will eat fish, crayfish, mollusks, rodents and insects as well as vegetation, berries, nuts, grains and fruit. They are also known to kill chickens and eat eggs. They use their front paws as hand, and will capture aquatic prey by hand, giving rise to the notion that they wash their food.
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Scavenged Food
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Because of their varied diet, raccoons will also eat just about everything left unsecured. They are known to raid garbage cans for food leftovers and have been known to eat road-killed carrion.
Feeding Raccoons
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Many people feed raccoons in their yards. When being fed by humans, raccoons seem to prefer some food over others. They are fond of dog food, fruit, peanuts and peanut butter. Care must be taken not to overfeed raccoons, and place the food out in multiple dishes, to minimize fights. Under no circumstances should raccoons be hand fed.
Problems with Feeding Raccoons
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People feeding raccoons neglect to realize that they are wild animals. Though they appear cute and cuddly, they can be vicious if they are threatened or are defending food. A bite from a raccoon will cause both you and the raccoon to be tested for rabies. If positive, you may undergo extensive treatment. Feeding raccoons also causes them to lose their fear of humans, turning them into pests for you and your neighbors.
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References
- Photo Credit raccoon image by pixelcarpenter from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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This article is pretty comprehensive as to what raccoons eat.
