Raccoons are omnivorous, eating wild and cultivated fruits, nuts, grains, buds and grasses. They eat rodents, insects, birds, reptiles, fish, frogs, crayfish, and mussels. They use their front paws, with five long, sensitive toes to grab and claw at prey. Children’s stories often tell of raccoons washing their food before they eat it—really they are just handling it, perhaps moistening it in water. They do love water. But those stories, and the fact that raccoons seem like a cartoon character come to life, endear humans to them. Raccoons are familiar—one of the first animals that children learn to identify and a regular presence in backyards. Some people keep them as pets, and make videos of them doing cute things like sitting on couches, playing with bubbles, turning on the faucet, eating grapes.
But raccoons are not cartoons or pets, they are wild animals. They carry rabies and parasites. They scratch and bite. They are strong, even when young. All of these characteristics cause problems when humans and raccoons find each other in close proximity.
Raccoons’ nocturnal wanderings set the dogs to barking. Like bandits, they dig up the garden and devour all the bird seed. Their dumpster-diving habits have earned them the nickname “trash panda.” They strangle chickens and rip off their heads. They are smart and vicious. They thrive in the presence of humans, and are blamed for their cleverness.
Read more at Natural Resources Council of Maine.
Catherine Schmitt 