Do Raccoons Like Shiny Things? (And Why They Do)

Raccoons are inquisitive little creatures; they just can’t resist exploring and touching things with their dexterous little paws. Many raccoon traps use shiny items like coins or foil as bait.

Raccoons can’t resist the allure of shiny things and will cling to it, leading to their capture in the trap. We can answer this question that says do raccoons like shiny things, by saying yes they can’t resist materials with shiny characteristics.

For emphasis, you can recognize a raccoon den by the presence of various shiny objects collected within it. These items could include dimes, lugnuts, pieces of tin foil, and glass fragments. It is unlikely that raccoons get these objects because they resemble fish scales. Many animals, including humans, catch fish without collecting their scales.

Raccoons primarily hunt for crawfish, so fish scales are unlikely to be the reason. Could it be that raccoons appreciate shiny objects for their aesthetic appeal, similar to humans and jewellery? Perhaps they find these items visually appealing and enjoyable to look at, prompting them to collect them.

Raccoons are irresistibly attracted to any glittering material or surface. It is important to take extra care when leaving out your shiny belongings, especially since raccoons are nocturnal creatures known for scavenging from homeowners.

To prevent your possessions from disappearing, ensure everything is securely stored and out of sight. Keep your valuables locked away, as raccoons have a knack for opening unlocked doors and windows. By taking these precautions, you can safeguard your shiny items from becoming targets for raccoons.

Why do Raccoons Like Shiny Things?

If you’ve ever stumbled upon a raccoon’s nest or hideout, you may have noticed an array of shiny objects scattered around. Tin foil, coins, plastic items, or even jewellery are all magnets for raccoons due to their reflective surfaces.

This fondness for shiny things often leads people to use aluminium foil as a means of trapping raccoons. The reflective nature of these objects piques the raccoon’s curiosity, drawing it closer. 

It’s a bit like how we humans are naturally like shiny or sparkly things! But why are raccoons so fascinated by shiny objects? The truth is, we’re not entirely certain why raccoons, along with birds and other animals, are so captivated by them. There could be several reasons behind this behaviour.

One possibility is that raccoons simply find these objects aesthetically pleasing. If given the chance, raccoons might even collect gold and diamonds, as they could perceive them as valuable treasures that could enhance their attractiveness to potential mates. Sound familiar? Another reason, which seems quite plausible, is that raccoons naturally like anything that shines and stands out. 

While raccoons don’t have the best eyesight in daylight, they possess relatively sharp vision in darkness. This means they’re more likely to notice shiny objects, which could potentially be edible or interesting to investigate. One way raccoons test the edibility of objects is by wetting them. This increases the sensitivity of their paws, helping them determine if the item is worth consuming.

What do Raccoons do With Shiny Things?

Raccoons are naturally drawn to shiny objects, displaying a variety of behaviours when encountering them. Raccoons often explore and engage with shiny items such as coins, foil, or jewellery, using their dexterous paws to pick them up, examine them closely, and seemingly study their reflective qualities. These curious creatures tend to gather and store these shiny treasures in their dens or hiding spots, likely as part of their instinct to stockpile food supplies. 

It’s not uncommon to see raccoons carrying shiny trinkets in their mouths or paws as they move around, temporarily “claiming” these intriguing finds. Some research even suggests that raccoons may attempt to exchange a shiny object for a different item they find appealing, showing a constant curiosity for discoveries. 

The gleam and mobility of objects like aluminium foil, bottle caps, or keys often prompt raccoons to play with them, batting them around using their paws as if engaging in a game. These behaviours demonstrate raccoons’ innate curiosity toward shiny objects. This heightened their desire to explore, gather, possess, and play with them. They fulfil their need for mental stimulation and enrichment of their instincts.

Do Raccoons Have Eye Shine?

At night, you may notice that raccoons’ eyes seem to glow with red colour. This amazing effect is comes to play by a structure in their eyes called the tapetum lucidum, which reflects light and enhances their vision in low-light conditions. So, when you shine a bright light, such as a flashlight, directly into their eyes, they reflect this red colour.

Do Raccoons Like aluminium Foil?

Since Aluminum has shiny characteristics and we have established that raccoons are like shiny things, we can also say that yes, raccoons are like aluminium foil. Raccoons show different notable attraction to aluminium foil for several reasons, and they are:

1. Shininess

Much like humans like shiny objects, raccoons find the reflective surface of aluminium foil captivating. Its metallic sheen resembles water, a natural draw for these animals.

2. Novelty

Raccoons are intelligent creatures with a penchant for exploring new stimuli in their environment. Loose sheets or crumpled balls of aluminium foil offer a novel texture and movable object for them to investigate and manipulate with their nimble paws.

3. Sound

When handled or crumpled, aluminium foil produces a distinctive crinkling sound that captures a raccoon’s attention and curiosity.

4. Enrichment

Wildlife facilities sometimes offer aluminium foil to raccoons as a form of enrichment. This allows them to engage in natural behaviours like curiosity and object manipulation.

Whether encountered in garbage cans, yards, or campgrounds, raccoons in both wild and urban settings find aluminium foil fascinating. They may collect it and even bring it back to their dens as part of their instinctive hoarding behaviour. The combination of its shine, unique texture and sound, and potential for enrichment makes aluminium foil an engaging and amusing diversion for raccoons.

Conclusion

We can finally say that raccoons like shiny things. So, it is important for you to safeguard any jewelry or reflective items from their reach. It may seem tempting to offer them something captivating to play with, doing so can lead to various issues. They will not only cause damage to the objects they find, but they also put themselves at risk of harm.

Feeding raccoons can foster dependency on humans, prompting unwanted interactions. To deter raccoons, it’s vital to ensure that all trash cans or bins are securely covered and that pet food is stored away securely.

Vigilance is key in monitoring raccoon activity, and if there’s any suspicion of a raccoon problem, seeking assistance from a wildlife expert is advisable.

By taking proactive measures, individuals can ensure the safety of themselves, the raccoons, and their property. Ultimately, it’s crucial to recognize raccoons’ attraction to shiny items and implement necessary precautions to discourage their presence.