The wild offers a variety of different foods to animals, as the seasons change, so do the diets of wild animals. Wild animals, like raccoons, will usually eat a diet of berries, nuts, and fruits in the wild.

But what about wild mushrooms? Do raccoons eat wild mushrooms, this article explores this topic. 

Raccoons do eat wild mushrooms, these animals eat almost anything, wild mushrooms included. The animal will first assess the mushroom to see if it’s edible and won’t make them sick, then it will eat it. Generally, if a mushroom can be eaten by humans, raccoons will likely be able to eat it 

Do raccoons eat wild mushrooms?

There isn’t much that a raccoon won’t eat, these animals are omnivores so they eat both plant and animal matter. They are opportunistic feeders who will eat almost anything that they can get their paws on.

Raccoon diets can include eggs, mice, rats, chipmunks, snakes, fruits, vegetables, fish, robins, and wild mushrooms 

Mushrooms, wild mushrooms included, are fungi. Humans, 20+ species of primates, and a variety of other animals eat mushrooms. Raccoons see mushrooms as any other food source, they don’t distinguish between foods, they only know that food as food.

How raccoons assess mushrooms:

Raccoons can usually be seen dipping their food in water before eating, this makes their hands more sensitive to what they are holding which in turn helps these animals assess what they’re holding.

After this, the raccoon will take a small bite of the mushroom and then wait. This waiting helps them figure out if the mushroom is good for them or not. If the raccoon gets sick then it will leave the mushroom alone for good.

If the raccoon doesn’t get sick then it will go back and finish the mushroom off. 

Adult raccoons will teach younger raccoons which mushrooms are edible. They will also teach them how to figure out which mushrooms are edible and which aren’t.

Which wild mushrooms raccoons can eat:

Raccoons can eat the same wild mushrooms that humans can eat, these include puffballs, morels, and boletes.

If you’re growing puffballs in your garden (this mushroom grows in many people’s lawns) then raccoons living in suburbs and your neighborhood may visit to eat some. 

Morels are loved by humans and raccoons alike. These mushrooms are delicious and safe for both humans and raccoons.

Boletes are spongy mushrooms that raccoons can also eat. 

Mushrooms, whether wild or not, are enjoyed by raccoons because they don’t need to be chased and caught like insects and small animals are, mushrooms simply need to be found and eaten. 

What are wild raccoon’s favorite foods? 

Raccoons have access to a variety of foods in the wild, this variety of food ensures that raccoons have a diverse diet. Still, there are foods that are favorites to raccoons.

A raccoon’s favorite foods include insects, berries, nuts, and eggs. All these foods are not only tasty to raccoons, but they are also easy to find and eat, they are also abundant in the wild 

What foods are poisonous to raccoons? 

Although raccoons seem to be able to eat almost anything, some foods are quite toxic to these animals, these foods include: 

Onions:

We humans use onions in many meals but raccoons can’t have onions. Onions contain disulfide and sulfoxides which can cause the animal to develop anemia. 

Chocolates, cocoa, or coffee:

Humans love these foods but raccoons can’t have them.

These foods contain caffeine and theobromine which can speed up the animal’s heart rate and derail its nervous system. This can result in increased aggression, irritability, and hyperactivity.

Candies and sodas:

Humans shouldn’t be eating too many candies and sodas and neither should raccoons. Candies contain xylitol which can lead to seizures, loss of concentration, vomiting, and liver failure in raccoons.

The complex sugars in sodas can destabilize the animal’s digestive and hormonal systems.

 

Avocados:

This may be a creamy and delicious spread for humans but the persin present in avocados can cause raccoons to develop diarrhea and vomiting, it can even cause heart congestion in raccoons.

Avocado seeds can also be a choking hazard to raccoons.

 

Conclusion 

In conclusion, yes raccoons can eat wild mushrooms, wild mushrooms that humans eat can be eaten by raccoons too.

When raccoons get a hold of wild mushrooms these animals will wet their paws to better assess what they’re holding.

They will also take a bite out of the mushroom to see if they get sick before eating the whole mushroom.

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