We all know that humans can pack on the pounds, and so can animals, but why? Why are raccoons so fat?

Raccoons are so fat because they have access to foods that are generally very rich in fat and sugar. They have access to cheeseburgers, french fries, desserts, sweets, bread and a variety of other junk and fried foods which all contribute to making them fat.

Wild animals are generally at a healthy weight, this is the case for raccoons in the wild as well. But recently, more raccoons have been living in urban areas and it seems that raccoons are getting fatter and fatter. So the question on your mind may be why are raccoons fat? Whether you’re a concerned raccoon lover, a wildlife enthusiast or are simply curious, this article will help you figure out why raccoons are so fat

Why are raccoons fat?

Raccoons are living among humans more than ever before and because of this, they’re eating differently than they would in the wild. They now have access to food that was never a part of their natural diet. And on top of that, they are less active.

When it comes to living in the city, raccoons only have access to food from the garbage and the occasional foods that humans give them. Food discarded by shops and restaurants is generally very rich in fat and sugar, but as opportunistic eaters, raccoons will eat these foods without a second thought.

This has a negative effect on their health and weight, raccoons will pack on the pounds, gaining excessive weight and this is why they are so fat. Because they eat similarly to humans in the city these animals will also develop metabolic syndromes such as obesity and even diabetes.  

They eat foods that are high in salt and high in fat. Their bodies aren’t equipped to deal with all that salt and fat so they become bigger just like humans do. These animals will eat cheeseburgers, French fries, desserts, sweets, bread and a variety of other junk and fried foods. 

In addition, in the wild, it’s more difficult to find food to eat to sustain themselves. They spend a lot of time walking around looking for food in the wild. In urban environments, it’s much easier to find food and easy to find food that is fatty and unhealthy, in addition, they eat out of boredom. 

Just like bears, which are related to raccoons, raccoons stockpile fat. Bears use this fat during hibernation. Raccoons do not hibernate but use this up when food is scarce during the winter. In urban environments, these small animals aren’t very active in the winter or summer and this results in a buildup of fat stores on their bodies.

In the case of pet raccoons becoming fat, these animals are fattened up by their premium formulas. Yes, what you give them this is a great source of nutrients but sometimes too much can be a negative. In addition, you may be feeling your pet some nuts or dogfood but these are also very fattening to them

What’s a healthy raccoon weight? 

A healthy and medium-size raccoon weighs in the range of about 14-23 pounds. Of course, this is dependent on the habitat and the food options in the area but this is generally what you can expect from a raccoon living in the wild. Today raccoons in the city can weigh much more than this

How to get my pet raccoon to lose weight? 

You can get your pet raccoon to lose weight by changing its diet to a healthier diet, similar to what they eat in the wild. This diet will include worms, invertebrates, fruits, insects, vegetables, birds, amphibians, mice and crickets

You can also give them foods such as fish, eggs, vegetables, earthworms, mealworms and grain-free dog food. However, because this has a high-calorie count only feed them a hand full or ⅛ a cup a day and supplement with other foods in small amounts. Give them a tablespoon or two of fresh veggies and insects, chicken or egg

If you want to feed them a treat you can feed them snacks like nuts. Note: Because nuts are high in fat, you want to limit how much you give them. Do not give them bowls of nuts, give them one or two. You can also give them fruits as snacks in moderation, too much fruit will add too much sugar into their diet

Summary 

In summary, raccoons are so fat because they live in urban areas. They eat fatty and sugary foods from the garbage and as a reult become obese. The foods that they eat include chips, burgers, pizzas, sweets and deserts. They don’t eat the healthy diet that they usually would in the wild and they aren’t as active, they can also eat out of boredom.

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: why are raccoons hunted, how do raccoons not get sick, why do raccoons eat garbage, how to keep raccoons from eating tomatoes,