Raccoons are quite resourceful animals, raccoons are smart, persistent, and are willing to accept a challenge when it comes to finding food. They will try to get food any way they can, jumping over fences, swimming in water bodies, and running to catch their prey.

These animals will eat almost anything. So how about peanuts? Do raccoons eat peanuts? This article looks into it 

Raccoons can definitely eat peanuts, raccoons, are omnivores, they can eat a variety of plants and animals, peanuts included. Peanuts offer good amounts of protein and fats as well as vitamins and minerals such as fiber, folate, thiamine, phosphorus, copper, biotin, vitamin E, magnesium, manganese, as well as antioxidants

Do raccoons eat peanuts?

Raccoons eat a variety of foods, they are opportunistic feeders. They are also omnivores, this means that they will eat both plant and animal matter.

Their diets can include birds, small mammals, fish, insects, and various plants.

They enjoy eating peanuts as well 

Health benefits of raccoons eating peanuts:

Peanuts are high in fat:

Peanuts are ideal for raccoons because they are high in fat. The more peanuts they eat, the more fat gets stored in their bodies.  They need this fat to sustain them in winter.

Unlike other animals, raccoons do not hibernate during winter, they are awake in their dens during this time. Food is scarce during winter and having added fat on their bodies acts as a reserve.

The raccoon’s body will use this fat to keep the animal alive when food is scarce. 

Peanuts are high in protein:

Peanuts are also a great source of protein. There are around 26 grams of protein in 100 grams of peanuts. Protein is an essential nutrient that is needed by every animal, raccoons included.

Protein is needed for the development and maintenance of body tissue. It is also needed for cell regeneration 

Peanuts deliver other vitamins:

In addition, peanuts are packed with a variety of vitamins and minerals. Other nutrients that peanuts offer include fiber, folate, thiamine, phosphorus, copper, biotin, vitamin E, magnesium, manganese, as well as antioxidants 

How raccoons find and eat peanuts:

Raccoons are able to eat peanuts just as humans can because their teeth are designed to be able to grind plant matter. They are omnivores, thus their teeth can also tear into meat

These animals have hands and fingers just as humans do, these fingers allow raccoons to pick peanuts in the ground or pick them from our garbage cans. 

Not only do raccoons enjoy peanuts, but they also enjoy other peanut products such as peanut butter. If you want to feed peanut butter to raccoons, do not leave the whole jar out as their head can get stuck in it 

What kind of nuts do raccoons eat?

• Acorns 

• Beechnuts

• Walnuts 

• Almonds 

Tip: When feeding raccoons be sure to avoid feeding these animals by hand. Their small and fluffy appearance may put you at ease, but it is important to remember that they are still wild animals and their sharp claws and teeth can easily tear into human skin should they scratch or bite you. 

Note: You may be considering leaving heaps of these nuts out for raccoons to eat but this may not be the best idea. Firstly, because these animals carry peanuts elsewhere, the peanuts may end up in one or a couple of your neighbors’ yards.

If your neighbors have a nut allergy, this can be life-threatening 

Another reason why you should avoid feeding too many nuts to raccoons is that the raccoons may become accustomed to being fed peanuts by humans.

Raccoons who are accustomed to being fed by humans can get aggressive when other humans don’t feed them.

Only feed these animals on occasion 

What do raccoons like to eat most?

Although raccoons can eat a variety of foods, peanuts included. They do have favorite foods, raccoons like sweet foods just as many humans and other animals do. They also enjoy a number of crops. Their favorite foods include: 

• Peaches 

• Apples

• Berries 

• Pears 

• Potatoes 

• Peas

• Sweet corn 

Nevertheless, these animals will eat anything that is available to them, whether it’s fresh fruits and vegetables or foods from our garbage. Their diets are quite flexible 

What animals eat peanuts?

Peanuts are not only eaten by raccoons, peanuts are loved by many animals. A variety of other animals eat this food including: 

• Ravens 

• Mice

• Crows

• Pigs

• Rabbits 

• Monkeys 

• Hamsters 

• Woodpeckers 

Conclusion 

In conclusion, raccoons do eat peanuts.

Peanuts are a great source of protein and fats for raccoons as well as vitamins and minerals such as fiber, folate, thiamine, phosphorus, copper, biotin, vitamin E, magnesium, manganese, as well as antioxidants.

Other animals that eat peanuts include ravens, mice, crows, pigs, rabbits, monkeys, hamsters, and woodpeckers.

If you enjoyed this article then you may also be interested in other raccoon related articles. Here are some articles that you may be interested in: Do raccoons eat other animals?, Do raccoons eat petunias?, Do raccoons eat peaches?,