# What Do Raccoons Eat?

> What raccoons eat: Omnivore, foraging style, and seasonal shifts in Forest, wetland, and urban areas.

- **Species:** Raccoon (*Procyon lotor*)
- **Conservation status:** Least Concern
- **Diet:** Omnivore
- **Habitat:** Forest, wetland, and urban areas
- **Lifespan:** 2–3 years in the wild
- **Top speed:** Up to 24 km/h (15 mph)
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/raccoon/what-do-raccoon-eat/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/raccoon/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

The raccoon is a clever, adaptable mammal native to North America, easily recognized by its black 'bandit' mask and ringed tail. Famous for nimble, sensitive front paws and a habit of 'washing' food, raccoons thrive in forests, wetlands, and cities alike. They are highly intelligent omnivores that typically live 2 to 3 years in the wild, though much longer in captivity.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need a captive feeding plan from a veterinarian. This page is wild diet, not a pet-care sheet.

## Clever and dexterous

Raccoons are remarkably intelligent and have extraordinarily sensitive, nimble front paws with which they can open latches, jars, and bins. In studies they solve puzzles and remember solutions for years, and their problem-solving skills are a big reason they flourish alongside people.

## Help protect the Raccoon

Even familiar animals lose ground as wild habitat keeps shrinking worldwide.

[Donate to wildlife protection](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/donate/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/raccoon/what-do-raccoon-eat/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.