Foods That Racoons Eat

Raccoons are mammals native to North America. They are not commonly regarded as pets, and feeding wild raccoons can be risky, so it's not generally encouraged. They are omnivorous animals, with a typical diet ranging from fruits and vegetables to frogs and smaller rodents. In populated areas, they are known for picking through trash cans and dumpsters in search of food.

  1. Plants and Byproducts

    • Raccoons enjoy a variety of fruits, vegetables and nuts. They make corn a large part of their diet in areas where it is plentiful. They also favor berries, walnuts and acorns. When a particular food is plentiful or in season, the raccoon eats more of it.

    Invertebrates

    • Invertebrates are animals without backbones, and they make a large portion of the raccoon's diet. They include insects and worms and even spiders. Since these animals are easy for a raccoon to find, it favors invertebrates as an alternative to herbaceous foods.

    Vertebrates

    • Smaller vertebrates (animals with backbones) are also favored by raccoons. They actively seek frogs and snakes, as well as fish, rodents, and they have a special fondness for cray fish. Raccoons stand with their tail resting underwater and wait for cray fish to swim on their tail to rest. They flip the cray fish out of the water and eat them.

    Other Foods

    • Raccoons often raid bird nests to eat the eggs. They also enjoy dog and cat food and are even known to enter homes in search of pet foods.