Are raccoons stealing dog and cat food on your property? Raccoons are omnivorous animals. This means they prefer to eat plants and meat. Many animals that eat plants and meat are opportunistic animals. In general, raccoons eat whatever they can get their hands on, including berries and vegetables, and this is why you will see them in the trash. This includes raccoons stealing and eating your dog and cat food as well.
A raccoon’s main diet is nuts, berries, insects, rodents, plants, frogs, eggs, and other small rodents. Of course, this is when they are in the wild. They will stray from these food sources when other sources are more abundant. If they are living near suburban areas it is much easier to dig through your trash and get leftovers. It is even better when they find a bowl of dog or cat food left out for them. There is almost nothing a raccoon won’t eat!
Raccoons are often one of the biggest cause of problems in suburban areas. They are extremely smart and have hand-shaped paws that allow them to open almost anything. The best way to deter raccoons is to make sure they do not have a reason to be there. Make certain your trash can is locked up tight or put away until the morning the trash collector comes. Also, do not leave food out near open windows. You just may be inadvertently inviting an unwanted visitor into your home. And then you've got real problems!