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A raccoon might very well eat mice and rats, should the situation arise, But you aren’t likely to see raccoons chasing after a rat or mouse. They’re far too lazy for that, and more opportunistic also. If a dead rat or mice presents itself, on the other hand, the dish is fair game. They’ll eat as much of it as they can. It is not unusual for raccoons to eat rodents, particularly those that you can find invading your home, but there are easier and taster meals on offer.

If you have rats or mice in your home, they WILL attract other animals, raccoons just being one of them. If you live in an area that is well known to have many snakes, you may find an increase of the slithering beasts in your home or on your land when you have a rodent infestation too. These rodents are well known to attract a wide range of other animals, mostly bigger animals that would be classed as predators.

Racoons do not work as a mice or rat prevention method, mostly because raccoons cause almost as may problems as the rodents do, and even more so in some cases. Regardless of what wild animal you have invading your property, call in the professionals to find out how to protect you and your home today.

What Do Wild Raccoons Eat?

If you're wondering what keeps bringing raccoons to your back yard all the time, the answer is probably food. In fact, knowing and understanding what wild animals are looking for, particularly in the food sense, is a great way to being able to then get rid of them. If you keep offering up something they want, you have no chance of ever having a successful eviction.



In the wild, raccoons would eat the following:
Insects — If you've ever wondered why raccoons keep digging up your yard after it rains, it's because the animal is making the most of the increase food availability. Lots of insects flood to the grassy and soil areas after the rain, hoping to make the most of the situation. Other animals do the same.
Eggs — Raccoons love eggs, especially eggs that have been left unattended in a nest for them. They'll even eat small hatchings if they are given an opportunity too, including chickens, although, they will scamper off when the mother comes along. He's not usually looking to fight chickens or larger birds, just interested in preying on the eggs and smaller ones.
Fish — Raccoons love to live close to water. They dunk their food in water before they eat it in many cases, although no one is really sure why they do that. We all have our thoughts on it — some believe it's to soften food and make it easier to eat. Others think it might be the animal's way of making sure the food is clean and ready to eat. Other experts say it could just be for the sheer fun of it. We don't know. What we do know is that they almost always live close to water and are pretty good at fishing.
Marine life — As well as catching fish, raccoons will eat newts, frogs, tadpoles, crabs, smaller shell fish, and anything else it can find.
Fruit & vegetables — There are plenty of sources of fruits, berries, vegetables, and all sorts of other plant delights during the spring and summer, but these tend to dry up for the winter.
Smaller mammals — If a male raccoon finds a nest of kits int he middle of a harsh winter, it will think nothing of turning to cannibalism because it doesn't really have a choice. It will need to eat or starve. Raccoons, both male and female, will also eat smaller rats and mice, but they would prefer something that has already died. They're quite lazy. They would much rather come across a meal than have to hunt a meal down.
Small snakes — In fact, anything smaller than the raccoon has the potential to be prey, as long as it doesn't squirt back, fight back, or make too much of a noise when the raccoon tries to overpower it.

For more information, you may want to click on one of these guides that I wrote:
How much does raccoon removal cost? - get the lowdown on prices.
How to get rid of raccoons - my main raccoon removal info guide.
Example raccoon trapping photographs - get do-it-yourself ideas.
Raccoon job blog - learn from great examples of raccoon jobs I've done.
raccoons in the attic