table of contents
- distribution
- Aquatic life
- Food on land
- Garbage & compost
- Lining
- Prevent
- frequently asked Questions
Interested readers can find out what raccoons eat and what the food in the wild or the food of an injured animal can look like. Keep away or feed, both are possible.
In a nutshell
- live animals and eggs are eaten
- Garbage can attract the animals
- Animal feed and leftover food are attractive
- the raccoon is omnivorous
- Raccoon food is not always "washed"
distribution
The animals with the scientific name Procyon lotor are extremely adaptable. They also spread very quickly in Europe. Forests, gardens and even cities became their new habitats. All they need to survive is:
- sufficient feed
- a source of water, such as a lake, river, or rain barrel
- Hideouts that are quiet during the day
For this reason, forests near a stream or lake, for example, and gardens are suitable City in which the predators put their food in organic bins and residual waste bins or other waste bins Find. Also at the Solution you can see that a raccoon is up to mischief.
Aquatic life
Aquatic life is an important source of food for every raccoon. Raccoons eat, among other things:
- fishes
- frogs
- Crabs
- Shellfish in general
The garden pond filled with goldfish can therefore also be particularly popular with the animals.
Note: Since the predators both feel for food in the water and feel the food itself in the water, it appears as if they were washing it. This is where the name “washing” bear comes from.
Food on land
The animals find numerous sources of food not only in bodies of water, but also on land. For example:
- Acorns
- Lizards
- Eggs
- vegetables
- insects
- Larvae
- Mice and other small mammals
- nuts
- fruit
- Birds
- worms
Other nutrient-rich plant or animal food sources are also used. Raccoons eat moss, leaves and needles as well as young shoots.
Garbage & compost
Gardens or the organic waste and residual waste bins in front of houses are also popular destinations for animals. In gardens or on farms, the compost heap attracts raccoons not only with leftover food from humans and pets. Insects and their larvae are also eaten.
The same applies to organic waste or household waste. Since leftovers are often disposed of in this way, a raccoon in bins or containers is not uncommon even in the middle of the city. The animals are excellent at climbing and opening the lids is also no problem for them. It can therefore even happen that a raccoon suddenly appears on the balcony on the third floor and, for example, eats fruit and vegetables from the plants.
Lining
However, those who keep pets outside also offer the raccoons a large buffet. The feed of chickens, rabbits and even cats and dogs is not spurned by the wild animals. It can even attract them even more.
Then there are the pets themselves. If these are poultry or small mammals with offspring, eggs and young animals are at risk. Since the parent animals usually do not allow this to happen without resistance, the risk of injuries to them is also high.
Prevent
If you don't want raccoons in the garden or on the balcony, there are some preventive steps you can take. The main aim is to make access to possible food and feed for pets more difficult.
This means, among other things:
- Lock organic and residual waste bins
- fence in edible plants or fruits
- Protect garden ponds, especially those with fish
- do not leave any leftover food outside
- Secure animal enclosures and kennels well
Tip: Many people imagine raccoons to be comparatively small and cute. But the predators are up to 85 centimeters long, strong and defensive. Digging under fences or climbing up them is therefore possible without any problems. Accordingly, the fuse must fail.
frequently asked Questions
No. It is a wild animal that has a high potential for destruction. Keeping a raccoon in an apartment or house would therefore not be good for the furniture, the animal or the human roommates. The species-appropriate keeping requires at least an outdoor enclosure and a lot of effort. Because they are predators, they can be dangerous to other animals as well as humans. The pointy teeth and sharp claws quickly become a significant risk.
Wildlife stations, animal welfare, animal shelters, animal clinics, the veterinary office and veterinarians can help. Caution is always advised with the predators. This is especially true when they are injured. You should therefore not be confronted directly.
Although the animals do not hibernate, they put on as large a layer of fat as possible from the end of summer. In autumn they mainly eat windfalls, acorns and other high-calorie foods. This is why, for example, leftover food from pets, but also leftover food, are particularly popular. The fat layer serves as a reserve and at the same time as insulation against the cold.