Do raccoons eat yellow jacket nests?

Raccoons are opportunistic omnivores and are known to eat a variety of things, including insects. While they might occasionally eat yellow jacket larvae or pupae from a destroyed nest, they don't typically target yellow jacket nests for food.

Here's why:

* Yellow jackets are aggressive: Raccoons are smart animals, and they know that yellow jackets can sting and inflict painful, potentially dangerous bites. They are more likely to avoid such a confrontation.

* Other food sources are easier: Raccoons are skilled scavengers and can easily find other food sources that are less risky than attacking a yellow jacket nest.

* Not a primary food source: Yellow jackets aren't a significant part of a raccoon's diet. They're more interested in things like fruits, nuts, eggs, and small animals.

However, if a raccoon encounters a yellow jacket nest that's been disturbed or abandoned, they might opportunistically eat any larvae or pupae they find.

So, while raccoons might eat yellow jackets in some circumstances, they don't actively seek them out as a primary food source.