In this article, we’ll answer the question:
“What do raccoons eat?”
First, you’ll find a short summary of what raccoons eat in nature, then get a list of a raccoon’s favorite foods that make up a typical raccoon diet. And finally, answers to common questions about raccoon feeding habits and nutrition.
Raccoons are medium-sized mammals in the family Procyonidae under the order Carnivora. A raccoon is usually nocturnal and omnivorous, eating about 40% invertebrates, 27% vertebrates, and 33% plants.
What Do Raccoons Eat?
Raccoons eat fruits, vegetables, plants, nuts, fish, frogs, mussels, insects, mice, rabbits, and bird eggs because they are omnivores. A raccoon’s diet is determined by the availability of prey and vegetation in its habitat.
Raccoon Diet (Favorite Foods)
- Crayfish
- Frogs
- Fish
- Snails
- Clams
- Mussels
- Insects
- Mice
- Rabbits
- Bird eggs
- Plants
- Vegetables
- Fruit
How Often Does a Raccoon Eat?
A raccoon often eats twice a day; however, the feeding frequency depends on age. Raccoons mostly eat at night because they are nocturnal creatures and are opportunistic scavengers that will eat just about anything they can find.
How Much Do Raccoons Eat Per Day?
Raccoons eat about 5% of their body weight in the wild, translating to between 30 and 70 ml of food. However, a handful of dog food is enough per day for a pet raccoon. Overfeeding can be detrimental to baby raccoons.
How Long Can Raccoons Live Without Food?
Raccoons can live for up to five days without food. However, the duration that a raccoon can live without food depends on its health, fat and liquid reserves, and the season. In winter, a raccoon can spend weeks in their dens without food.
Do Raccoons Eat Cats?
Raccoons eat cats but it is highly unlikely because cats are not among their common prey. However, because raccoons are opportunistic predators, they will attack and eat cats if a good opportunity arises.
Do Raccoons Eat Rabbits?
Raccoons do eat rabbits but these animals are not easy to hunt. The chances of a raccoon catching a rabbit are low because they are slower than rabbits. A rabbit can reach a speed of 27mph whereas a raccoon’s speed is limited to 15 mph.
Do Raccoons Eat Fish?
Raccoons do eat fish because they are omnivores. However, a raccoon’s fish selection is limited to shallow-water fish like koi, goldfish, and crustaceans because raccoons don’t dive into the water.
What Animals Eat Raccoons?
Raccoons are prey to a number of different species.
You can visit our other guide on what animals eat raccoons to find out which predators actively feed on these mammals.
Raccoon Eating Habits and Diet Summary
You now know what do raccoons eat in the wild as well as the typical food in a raccoon diet.
As you discovered in this guide, raccoons are omnivorous scavengers that eat prey and vegetation for nutrition with a raccoon’s favorite food being things like vegetables, mice, and bird eggs.
I’m the lead editor and writer for Animal Answer Guide. I enjoy sharing expert knowledge on the various characteristics of common species within the five distinct groups of animals: amphibians, birds, fish, mammals, and reptiles.
