Do Raccoons Eat Meat? (Are They Omnivores or Carnivores)

In sharing neighborhoods with raccoons, it is very common to see raccoons raiding trash cans in search of food. And in most cases, they find cooked or processed human foods and sometimes fruits and vegetables.  

They have also been reported to open people’s doors by turning the knobs with their skilled hands. And when they get into people’s homes, they mostly steal things like fruits, vegetables, and leftover foods.

This is why most people that view raccoons from afar can even vouch for them that they are too innocent to eat any food with fresh animal blood. 

But does their innocent look make them herbivorous bandits that go after plant materials only? Keep reading to find out what these masked bandits are capable of eating and to know what to keep away from them.  

Do Raccoons Eat Raw Meat?

Yes, raccoons eat meat but do they eat raw meat? Raccoons do not have restricted diets like some animals do, they eat many things, including raw meat.

Unlike humans that have to worry about consuming pathogens in raw meats, raccoons have well developed digestive system that can digest pathogens. Their saliva also helps to render pathogens inactive before they get to their stomach. 

And as flesh eaters, they have sharp pointed teeth they can use to tear up the flesh. So, raccoons are natural raw meat eaters just like dogs and cats.

What Kind of Meat do Raccoons Eat? 

Raccoons are ready to eat all sorts of meat when the opportunity presents itself. This is largely because raccoons are not skilled hunters, they tend to settle for any meat they can find. Raccoons also will not hesitate to eat large and dangerous animals that they come across laying dead. 

Raccoons also favor meats that they can find easily, like the ones they get from water bodies. Because these animals are not challenging to kill. 

Do Raccoons Eat Meat Bones?

Raccoons have strong sharp teeth that can crush bones, especially softer bones like those of chickens. But raccoons are not known to crush stronger bones, like those of humans and other strong animals

Do Raccoons Eat Dead Animal?

Raccoons are not picky when it comes to what they eat, and when an opportunity to eat meat that it did not stress itself out to kill presents itself. Raccoons would jump at such an opportunity and devour the animal.

Larger animals are always difficult for raccoons to capture, and if they depend on their hunting skill to eat such animals, it will never happen.

But just imagine a raccoon stumbling upon one of those animals that it never dreamt of eating. It would not waste time before devouring the animal, so long as the animal carcass is still fresh. Even though the raccoon cannot finish the large animal carcass, at least it will eat to its satisfaction. 

Do Raccoons Eat Chicken?

When farmers find their flocks of chickens killed, with some parts of their bodies like the head missing. Among the first culprits that come to mind are the masked bandits. Because they sometimes kill chickens for fun, and even when they kill chickens for food, they still can’t finish a full chicken. 

So, one of the predators that chickens have is a raccoon. Raccoons are known to eat chicken flesh and their bones too. 

Are Raccoons Omnivores or Carnivores?

Raccoons do not mind eating whatever is available, be it plants or animals, and this makes them omnivores. They do not depend on flesh alone to survive and neither do they rely on plants alone. Raccoons seize every opportunity they get to eat and store up body fats for the winter season when food would be scarce. 

What Can Raccoons Not Eat? 

There are things that even if you keep uncovered in your house and these masked bandits get in, they would never steal them. And some of these things can be used to repel them because they are poisonous to raccoons. And so you can never see a raccoon eating them.

Things like onions, macadamia, and chocolates are poisonous to raccoons, so raccoons cannot eat them. They also avoid things like garlic, candies, bread, and coffee, as they can make them sick

Frequently Asked Questions

Can raccoons eat beef?

Yes, raccoons can eat any white or red meat, including beef.

What is raccoon favorite food?

They can get easily, like fish, frogs, oysters, mice, nuts, fruits, and vegetables. 

Raccoons would gladly eat any meat, cooked or raw. This is why you have to keep all meat away from them or they would have reasons to keep visiting your home.

Cover your trash cans properly after disposing of things like chicken bones, to ensure that the bones do not draw raccoons to your yard.