Do Raccoons Eat Snakes?

Raccoons are creatures that are native to North America, and most people living in this part of the world have seen at least one skulking about. These animals are truly fascinating as they have adapted to urban human life and are not afraid to look for food and shelter in areas where people have settled. 

Some will be surprised to discover that raccoons eat more than just plants and garbage from dumpsters. 

Do raccoons eat snakes?

Raccoons actually eat other animals as well. They are known predators of smaller creatures they can find in the wild. As a result, you are probably asking: do raccoons eat snakes? 

Indeed, one of the animals that a raccoon eats is a snake. Snakes are usually not part of a raccoon’s usual habitat near water, however, they can still share the same living space with a raccoon. In those cases, they become part of the menu too. Snakes are very quick and agile, making them hard to hunt. 

How do raccoons catch snakes?

Raccoons are not one of the fastest or deadliest animals found in the woods. That is why they are not great at catching snakes and reptiles in general. Instead, they prey on them when they are injured or dead.

Reptiles and snakes provide raccoons with more protein and nutrients than other things in their diet. For example, reptiles can be a better source of protein than animals like clams and snails. 

Don’t be surprised if you find a raccoon catching a small snake, and it is important to remember that raccoons are still opportunists when it comes to catching their food.

Why do raccoons eat other animals?

The short answer is nutrients. Meat is a great source of protein and vitamins that are required to stay healthy. Relying entirely on plants will lead to nutrient deficiency for raccoons.

Although raccoons do not necessarily need to eat meat for every meal, they do need to eat animals here and there to receive enough nutrients to survive.

To stay healthy and get enough nutrients, raccoons require a varied diet of many different types of plants, seeds, nuts, and animals. The typical raccoon will usually forage for whatever is easiest and takes the least amount of energy.

As for meat in their diet, raccoons need to have a balance between seafood and other meat sources such as poultry and rodents. Eggs are also a common meal for raccoons. Raccoons eat snakes as they are high on protein, carbs, and calories.

What other animals do raccoons eat?

Raccoons are versatile in terms of meat consumption. They do not limit themselves to one or two animals as part of their diet. It mainly depends on what they are exposed to in their habitat, but the list includes rodents, such as rabbits, squirrels, mice, as well as fish, clams, and frogs.

There are benefits to different meats. Raccoons mainly rely on small rodents and snails out of all animals. They are the easiest to catch and provide a good amount of nutrients. For more information on what animals raccoons eat, you can visit this website.

What else is part of a raccoon’s diet?

Mean is not the main part of their daily feed. They eat a variety of plants every day. Like their cousins, raccoons are true omnivores who eat a wide variety of foods, including nuts, seeds, fruits, eggs, insects, frogs, and crayfish. They will eat whatever is available, using their dexterous paws to pluck morsels from small hiding places.

How to Deal with Raccoons Coming Into Your Garden

In their quest for food, raccoons may invade your garden or, even worse, your home. They have five toes and two front feet. These toes are equipped with sharp claws that are used to capture prey on land and in water. They may also be used to dig up grass and dirt in search of grub.

What do raccoons like to eat when they come to visit your home? They’ve been known to ravage homegrown fruits and vegetables and are notorious for rummaging through garbage. They may even build nests in your attic or crawl space. Raccoons can be dangerous and are proven carriers of numerous diseases, including rabies.

Here are a few ways to deter them without harm:

• Use ammonia or vinegar – soak tennis balls or something similar and put them on your garden fence. Raccoons hate the smell of them.
• Cucumber – raccoons hate the smell of this vegetable and will avoid your garden if you plant it around the edges.
• Don’t leave garbage out – trash is the biggest attractor for raccoons. If you want, you can leave them food but bear in mind they will start coming frequently as they will assume your home is a source for them. 

Are raccoons dangerous for my pet?

This depends on what pet we are talking about. Generally, raccoons visit your home for any plants in the garden or the garbage that you may leave outside. They are not seeking to prey on other animals. That being said, if you have a small pet like a hamster, lizard, or kitten, it is not safe to leave them outside without watching over them.

Raccoons will not attack a dog. It is too big and will probably scare the raccoon. Raccoons are not typically aggressive animals, so it is unlikely that a raccoon would stalk your cat or hunt it down in order to attack it, whether for food, protection, or sport.

If it is hungry though, it will not miss the opportunity to attack a smaller animal. Do not leave your kittens or small dogs exposed to the potential danger of a raccoon coming. 

Conclusion

Raccoons eat snakes among other animals. They are not the main part of their diet, however, a dead, injured, or offspring snake will be attacked by a raccoon if the opportunity is presented. Raccoons rely on plants for food but are opportunistic predators who are able to attack fatally smaller animals.