Raccoons are little thieves with paws everywhere. They wander through woods or your yard, sticking their noses in whatever smells good. So what do raccoons eat? If you don’t know what they like to eat, you might be unwittingly inviting them in. They’re clever, stubborn, and messy and will turn your backyard into their snack bar before you know it.
These critters will eat just about anything. They seek out wild berries, garden crops, even your leftover takeout. That adaptability makes it easy to lure them in without meaning to. Learning a few simple tricks on how to get rid of raccoons can save your yard from becoming their personal buffet.
Now, it’s time to go over what raccoons eat in the wild, what they scrounge in cities, why you shouldn’t feed them, and how to avoid rolling out the welcome mat. Plus, tricks to shoo them away if they’re already crashing your yard.
What Raccoons Eat in the Wild
So, what do raccoons eat in the wild? Honestly, they’ll eat just about anything they stumble across. They devour berries, acorns, crickets, frogs, little mice—they’re not picky. They’ll climb trees to nab bird eggs or wade into streams after fish. And if wild cherries, persimmons, or hickory nuts happen to be around? They’re in heaven.
In spring, they munch tender greens and grubs. Summer means ripe fruit and small creatures. Fall is all about bulking up on nuts and seeds for winter. Their menu shifts with the seasons, making them survival pros in forests or fields.
That adaptability is why they slide so easily into your yard when food’s nearby, seeming like they’ve got a radar for anything tasty.
What Raccoons Eat in Cities and Suburbs
In cities and suburbs, raccoons become trash can robbers. They prefer to dig through garbage for scraps like burger buns, chicken wings, or rotting apples. Pet food left on porches is a jackpot—cat kibble disappears fast. Compost piles with veggie peels or meat scraps? They’re like a raccoon diner.
Gardens get hit hard too. They’ll strip sweet corn stalks, raid strawberry patches, dig up lawns for worms, and go to town on your vegetable garden. Bird feeders are easy targets—they’ll tip over suet cages or crack open seed trays. Those nimble paws can pry into coolers, unsecured sheds, or even doggy doors with complete ease.
Urban raccoons thrive on human leftovers because it’s less work than foraging for food like they would in the wild. Your yard’s an all-you-can-eat buffet if you’re not careful.
Should You Feed Raccoons?
Should you feed raccoons? Absolutely not. Feeding them, even on purpose, turns them into bold, pesky regulars. They’ll bring their buddies, get pushy if food stops, and might carry diseases like rabies that can spread to pets or people.
Make the mistake of leaving dog food out once—next thing you know, raccoons will throw a nightly party on your deck. It’s tempting to toss those scraps, but it just creates trouble. Keep them wild by cutting off their food supply. It’s better for them and keeps your yard peaceful.
Why Accidental Feeding Is a Problem
Accidental feeding happens when you leave out easy snacks—open trash, pet bowls, or compost heaps. Raccoons see this as a warm invitation and move in quickly. They’ll tear up gardens, scatter garbage, and even chew through screens to reach food inside.
This attracts more raccoons, turning your yard into their hangout. It also attracts rats to your garden among other pests. Worse, raccoons carry parasites like roundworms, which aren’t fun for kids or pets playing outside.
Once raccoons know that your yard is a good place to find dinner, they also begin to seek new shelter nearby. Unfortunately, this could mean your house. They can easily scale your downspouts and begin to force their way indoors. Raccoons have been known to peel open vinyl siding, rip into soffits, and one of our editors actually had a raccoon climb down her chimney and bust a hole into her attic from the inside. She had professionals take care of the chimney and kept raccoons off the house by zip-tying these bird spikes from Amazon to the downspout the raccoons were using as a ladder.
Stopping accidental feeding breaks their habit. You might also need to speak with your neighbors about pet food left outside, fallen fruit from trees, or trashcans that aren't secured. It’s the key to keeping your space raccoon-free.
How to Avoid Accidentally Feeding Raccoons
If you don’t want raccoons treating your yard like a free-for-all buffet, start with the trash. Heavy lids, bungee cords, or something they can’t pry open will help. You can use a raccoon-proof can lock like this one from Amazon—they stare at it, then give up. Keep pet food inside, and if you feed dogs or cats, do it indoors too. Unfortunately, feeding neighborhood stray cats can quickly create a raccoon problem.
Compost? Only sealed compost tumblers like this one, also from Amazon, will keep them at bay. And skip anything meaty or dairy-based.
Bird feeders also draw in raccoons. Either take them down at night or switch to squirrel-proof designs. Using a baffle like this one from Amazon can keep raccoons and squirrels from climbing your bird feeder poles.
Sheds and garages should be locked up tight. Raccoons are little magicians when it comes to weak latches. Clean up fallen fruit or nuts from trees fast. These small fixes make your yard a lot less inviting.
How to Deter Raccoons If You Already Have Them
Got raccoons already? Make your yard a hassle. Sprinkle some cayenne pepper around all of your trash cans or beds—their noses hate the burn. A motion-activated sprinkler startles them with a quick spray. This is a reliable one from Amazon, and my personal go-to.
Seal gaps to attics or sheds—raccoons can squeeze through tiny holes. Set up bright lights or a loud radio at night. They’ll scamper away from the noise and glare. If they won’t quit, call a pro for humane trapping and relocation.
Stay consistent for a couple weeks, and they’ll move on to easier targets. It’s about making your place more trouble than it’s worth.
