Raccoons are notorious for rummaging through garbage bins, scouring backyards, and turning up in the most unexpected places. These intelligent animals, often dubbed “masked marauders” due to their recognizable facial markings and mischievous tactics, are primarily driven by one thing—their diet. 

If you’re wondering what attracts raccoons to your Whitby property or how to keep raccoons away, the answer often lies in the food and shelter your environment inadvertently provides. By understanding their diet and seasonal habits, homeowners can learn why raccoons are drawn to urban settings and take steps to deter their nightly escapades.

What Do Raccoons Really Eat?  

Raccoons are opportunistic omnivores, meaning they’ll eat almost anything they can get their paws on. Their diet ranges from fruits and vegetables to meat and even discarded leftovers. Living in urban areas offers them an abundance of food choices, making towns and cities prime habitats.  

During the warmer months, raccoons have access to a bounty of natural food sources. They feast on berries, nuts, insects, and small animals such as birds or amphibians. Gardens and fruit trees are especially attractive to raccoons, as they provide easy and abundant meals. Unfortunately, your backyard barbecue leftovers or pet food left outside can also quickly turn into raccoon meals. The convenience of human-provided food often outweighs their instinct to search for more traditional fare.  

By fall, raccoons shift their focus to high-calorie foods to prepare for winter. They rely on energy-rich produce like corn and acorns, along with any discarded human foods they can find. This seasonal behaviour aligns with their need to build fat reserves before colder weather rolls in. At this point, trash bins and compost piles can become prime targets because they typically contain calorie-dense scraps that raccoons thrive on.  

Winter is a particularly challenging season for wildlife, so raccoons adapt by exploiting whatever is available. Since snow and ice limit access to natural food sources, raccoons rely on scavenging more than ever. This is why they’re often spotted near homes—your trash or outdoor storage areas provide food security when resources are scarce in the wild.  

Why Are Raccoons Attracted to Your Whitby Home?  

If raccoons keep wandering onto your property, chances are it’s offering something they find irresistible—whether that’s food, shelter, or both. The most obvious culprits are uncovered garbage bins, unsealed compost, pet food bowls, and even bird feeders. These items serve as an all-you-can-eat buffet for resourceful raccoons. Unfortunately, this also encourages them to come back night after night.  

Beyond food, urban properties often provide ideal hiding spots or denning opportunities for raccoons. Areas like attics, chimneys, decks, or crawl spaces make for cozy shelters, especially during winter when raccoons seek warmth and protection from harsh elements. They tend to look for secure spaces where they can avoid predators and rest during daylight hours.  

Raccoons are also attracted to cluttered yards, piles of firewood, or overgrown vegetation. These areas act as easy hiding spots and paths to food sources. Even small cracks or uncovered vents can serve as inviting entry points into your home if left unaddressed. All of these factors combined make urban environments incredibly appealing to raccoons—but the good news is that homeowners can take steps to make their properties less attractive to these animals.  

Seasonal Shifts in the Raccoon Diet  

Understanding the seasonal variations in a raccoon’s diet is key to understanding their behaviour. During spring and summer, warm weather provides endless opportunities for foraging. Fruits, seeds, and insects make up the bulk of their diet during this period. Properties with gardens or fruit-bearing trees are especially vulnerable to raccoon visits, as these areas essentially serve as foraging hotspots.  

Fall marks a dramatic change in raccoon behaviour. This is when they enter a phase of high-calorie consumption to build fat reserves and prepare for the colder months. Cornfields, nut trees, and even stored birdseed become prime targets. If your yard contains any of these items, raccoons will likely view it as an invitation to dine freely.  

Winter, on the other hand, puts raccoons in survival mode. Their natural food sources dwindle significantly, so they turn to human environments for sustenance. Garbage cans, compost bins, and stored pet food become lifelines for raccoons during these lean months. Their persistence in winter often leads to increased interactions with homeowners, making it more crucial than ever to secure potential food sources.  

How to Keep Raccoons Away  

The best way to deter raccoons is by making your home as unwelcoming as possible from their perspective. Start by addressing the primary attractant—food. Ensure all garbage bins are securely closed, ideally with locking lids. Move compost bins away from the house and use animal-proof designs to prevent access. Feeding pets outdoors can attract raccoons, so it’s critical to clean up any leftover food immediately and bring dishes inside overnight.  

Don’t forget about bird feeders. While they’re great for attracting wildlife during the day, they also attract raccoons at night. Opt for raised feeders with guards that make it difficult for raccoons to access the birdseed.  

To address shelter concerns, inspect your property for potential entry points, such as holes in the roof, open vents, or spaces under decks. Seal these off using durable materials that raccoons can’t easily tear through. It’s also a good idea to trim back tree branches near the roofline, as raccoons are skilled climbers who can use them to access attics or other areas.  

For those dealing with frequent raccoon visits, removing clutter and overgrown foliage can make a noticeable difference. By clearing away debris and ensuring a tidy yard, you’re reducing the amount of cover raccoons have to hide and approach unnoticed.  

Why Choose Skedaddle for Raccoon Control?  

If raccoons have made their way into your home or yard, professional intervention is the most effective solution. Our team at Skedaddle specializes in humane wildlife control, focusing not only on removing raccoons but also on preventing future re-entry. We’re committed to ensuring both the safety of animals and the security of your home.  

Our process begins with a thorough property assessment to identify entry points and underlying issues attracting raccoons. Once identified, we use specialized techniques to remove animals safely and seal off access points permanently. This comprehensive approach not only resolves the immediate problem but also protects your home in the long run.  

Trust our experienced technicians to handle your raccoon issues with care, precision, and professionalism. With years of expertise in urban wildlife control, we’ve helped countless homeowners regain peace of mind and secure their properties against unwanted animal guests.  

Protect Your Property from Unwanted Visitors  

Your home shouldn’t double as a raccoon buffet or shelter. By minimizing food sources, securing entry points, and maintaining a clean yard, you can make your property far less appealing to these nocturnal visitors. However, if raccoons have already made themselves at home, it’s time to take action.  

At Skedaddle, we’re here to help. Our team of wildlife control experts understands the challenges of urban living and offers humane, effective solutions to raccoon problems. Don’t wait until the problem worsens—contact us today to ensure your property remains off-limits to raccoons year-round.