Raccoons (procyon lotor) are omnivores meaning they eat both plants and animals.
 
Raccoon Plant Food Raccoon Animal Food
  • Fruits
  • Berries
  • Nuts
  • Corn
  • Grains
  • Insects like grubs, snails, worms
  • Amphibians lie frogs and turtles
  • Small mammals like mice, rabbits, muskrats
  • Birds like chickens and their eggs
  • Water animals like crayfish, clams, and fish

The raccoons diverse diet allows them to thrive in a variety of habitats. They are present in every state in the United States. Raccoons use their keen sense of smell to find food. Their sensitive sense of touch helps identify the food. 

Raccoon Diet in the Wild

Raccoons eat nuts, berries, fruits, corn, and grains. Raccoons are also predators. They hunt small mammals like mice, voles, shrews, and rabbits. They have also been known to take bird eggs and young birds from nests. They can catch fish, shellfish, clams, crayfish, reptiles, and amphibians. Invertebrates like insects, grubs, snails, and earthworms are staples of a raccoon diet. Raccoons will eat almost anything to survive which includes scavenging dead carrion.

Baby raccoons typically wean in 16 weeks. After that, the baby raccoon will eat a standard raccoon diet.

Raccoon Diet in Urban Areas

Raccoons are opportunistic feeders and have adapted to live near people. Their regular meals depend largely on where they live. Food scents will attract raccoons and other nuisnace wildlife to your yard. 

For raccoons that live in residential areas, that means foraging for food in trash cans, gardens, bird feeders, and unattended pet food.

Once a raccoon has found a location with a source of food, it will look for a secure place to build a den. Crawl spaces and attics provide all the necessary requirements for an ideal raccoon den. With their sharp claws, raccoons can gain access to different parts of your house.

Prevent Raccoons, Remove Food Sources

Homeowners can unwittingly attract a raccoon to their property by having sources of food. Homeowners can avoid raccoon problems by limiting food sources like:

  • Secure garbage cans.
  • Bring in pet food.
  • Avoid bird feeders.

Raccoons like to live near water. Pools, birdbaths, or ponds can attract a raccoon to your property.

The most obvious sign you have a raccoon in your yard is the presence of feces. If a raccoon is in your attic, you’ll hear the critter moving late at night.

indicates required field.

Get them out.
Keep them out.®

Experience wildlife or pest issue? We can help! Complete this form and your local Critter Control® office will contact you to assist.

 

Best Bat Removal

Anett B.
5/8/2023
Brandon was out to please and make out lives easier with out bat situation. Above and beyond of the call of duty and got the job done. Thank you!
Celia G
3/9/2023
Bat removal. Very knowledgeable and dedicated.
Emily G.
9/1/2022
BAT POOP CLEAN-UP AND PREVENTION! Bat guano removed from gables. No bats found in attic, so put new screens on all gable vents, as one screen was close to breaking and then bats may have gotten in! Great work in Tulsa!
Jerry M.
10/14/2021
Squirrels and chipmunks were in our attic. So we called Critter Control to do an inspection. Their representative climbed all over our very steep roof and found several places where squirrels had entered our attic.

Upon inspection of the attic, evidence of bats was also found. The Critter Control team came on time to completely caulk the entire perimeter of the house and create an exit strategy for the squirrels and bats.

Because bat droppings can cause histoplasmosis, this also required total removal and replacement of our attic insulation and sanitizing the space. Not a small job in a 1,300 sq. ft. attic! While Critter Control’s cost was high, our homeowners insurance covered most of it. Everyone representing Critter Control was professional, courteous and timely. I would highly recommend them to anyone who thinks they might have unwelcome guests living in their attic
Vincent S.
10/30/2020
On recommendations from a nearby pest control company, I called Critter Control for suspicious bat droppings.

Madison came out the same day to do an inspection. She was knowledgeable, thorough, and highly professional. She examined the ‘matter’ that had been scattered on my threshold and thought it was foliage. But she then asked to go up to my attic space where the bats could be roosting. She had to walk up 3 flights of stairs with a heavy ladder. She again spent some time searching all the nooks and crannies and found nothing.

She seemed so interested in her craft, it was truly inspiring to see! She reassured me and is writing up a prevention strategy for my appraisal. She charged me NOTHING!! I am so impressed. We need more Madisons in this world!

Service: Bat Removal
Sonia-Maria R.
9/3/2020
We noticed droppings on our brand new deck - we were given their number from our contractor. They came the next day. Brian looked at it and said - yeah, bats!! He then checked every area in our attic and he explained exactly what needed to be done.

He found evidence of a mice infestation, provided a referral and they are helping us as well. Great service, very informative, very professional! We are very satisfied and would recommend them to anyone who has any issues with any critters!

Quicklinks

Contact Form