When raccoons don’t have other foods available to them , they may decide to prey on smaller animals such as cats , and dogs. If they were to find a dead squirrel, of course they would eat it. When you have raccoons in the attic or any other part of your propriety, they can do a tremendous amount of damage. Raccoons in the wild tend to live approximately two to three years, yet captive raccoons can live up to thirteen years. Calls for Dead Baby Raccoons No other tracks were found. Typically, adult raccoons do not die of starvation because they are such great scavengers. The animals are actually notorious for picking through garbage bins and landfills, making messes and earning their status as pests. As controls, we used a stuffed animal and a dead squirrel, which is still a dead animal, but is not related to raccoons and therefore less likely to have the same types of transmissible pathogens. Mature raccoons usually grow to anywhere between 24 inches and 38 inches long. Many females raccoons (sows) have given birth to their young (kits) and others will be giving birth through May. When raccoons don’t have other foods available to them , they may decide to prey on smaller animals such as cats , and dogs. Raccoons will eat anything; under the definitions of "omnivore" there should be a picture of a raccoon! Well, raccoons are scavengers, so that means they eat anything they can get a hold of, but I think most of the time they go for things other than dead animals. At the very least, try to feed the birds only in the morning, and only as much as they can eat before nightfall. In fact, the smell is so rancid that it may attract other unwanted pests. Raccoons will eat nearly anything to ensure their survival. There was no doubt the raccoon was the culprit. Around humans, raccoons often eat garbage and pet food. Individuals will eat together if a large amount of food is … Well, raccoons are scavengers, so that means they eat anything they can get a hold of, but I think most of the time they go for things other than dead animals. Raccoons in the wild tend to live approximately two to three years, yet captive raccoons can live up to thirteen years. Female raccoons are generally smaller than males. We did NOT kill any animals for this experiment. Gardeners also occasionally deal with raccoon problems, as the animals gladly eat corn, fruits, … The culprit turned out to be a raccoon, who returned to feed on the cat it had killed. Litters of … Raccoons in the wild typically live two to three years, but when infected with disease or injured by larger animals, their life can be cut short. Raccoons are also attracted to bird feeders, so, unfortunately, if you have a raccoon problem, you may have to do away with birdseed until you’ve taken the right steps to keep the raccoons away. Though they may find it difficult to catch lager cats but they successfully prey on kittens . Not only are they fixtures in damp woodsy areas, swamps and meadows, … They eat fruit, nuts, berries, small animals, and insects and also will feed on pet food, garbage, and garden crops. Do raccoons eat meat? How To: Get Rid of Raccoons Behind that adorable masked face lies a determined forager and a potentially destructive intruder. If food is scarce or homeowners have used tight-fitting lids on trash bins to combat raccoon infestations, the critters may break into homes in search of easy-to-reach pet and human foods. Raccoons hunt and eat animals primarily in springtime when other foods like vegetables, fruits and nuts are scarce or not available. Female raccoons look for den sites in late winter. Within a few days, a dead raccoon will begin to rot and cause a terrible odor. Raccoons do scavenge, but this was the only animal who returned to the carcass to feed. Although not great hunters, raccoons can catch young gophers, squirrels, mice, and rats. Feeding your pets outside is thus the primary reason … Raccoons will eat nearly anything to ensure their survival. A big aggregation of the raccoons at a food pile. Of course they do; after all, they are omnivorous. Typically, adult raccoons do not die of starvation because they are such great scavengers. Sometimes, raccoons can be seen eating side by side with cats and dogs, especially when such cats and dogs are fed by their owners outdoors. Raccoons generally have brown, reddish-brown or gray coats. Not very likely; they are just not fast enough. Sometimes, raccoons can be seen eating side by side with cats and dogs, especially when such cats and dogs are fed by their owners outdoors. Feeding your pets outside is thus the primary reason … Would they kill a squirrel? When it comes to dealing with wild animals, there are seldom guarantees. Raccoons also eat insects, slugs, dead animals, birds and bird eggs, as well as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds.