![]() ![]() You may find small, shallow holes in the lawn, similar to those made by squirrels, which are a result of a skunk foraging for grubs. Persistent, faint musky smells under a building or woodpile may suggest that a skunk has taken up residence. It is more likely you will smell a skunk than see one. Common conflicts and what to do about skunks In cases where eviction is necessary, a few mild harassment and deterrence techniques can help you humanely remove skunks while escaping smell-free. Although a skunk’s spray is known mostly for its robust smell, it can also cause intense discomfort if it gets into a person or animal’s eyes.įortunately, these mild-mannered creatures rarely use this potent defense, and provide quite a few benefits to the areas they inhabit. Therefore, they will only hunt, kill and eat these animals if given the opportunity.Skunks, easily identifiable by their characteristic black and white striping, are infamous for producing a foul odor when frightened. They are not particularly agile or efficient hunters. A raccoon will also hunt for snakes, rodents, squirrels, insects, as well as various dead animals (including roadkills). ![]() While finding prey near water is the preferred hunting method for a raccoon, it is not the only one. In the natural environment, they tend to eat acorns, berries, eggs, and even tree bark. They are true opportunists, often foraging the urban environment for food leftovers in trash cans. ![]() Next to meat, a raccoon will consume any edible substance it can find. Instead, they should be considered omnivores: an animal that has to eat both meat and plants to get all their nutrients. Raccoons are not true carnivores, even though the majority of their overall diet consists of small prey. While the raccoon will eat frogs on a semi-regular basis, they are only a small part of their overall diet. Animals such as these are easier prey and will therefore more often be consumed by a raccoon. That honor goes to small water lizards, snails, and crayfish. Toads and frogs are on the menu during a hunting session, but they are definitely not a priority for the raccoon. These usually tend to be small invertebrates, but can also be slightly bigger vertebrates like amphibians (these include frogs and toads). Sleep in the tree, go to the local lake or pond to hunt for small animals. In a natural environment, this is how the raccoon collects its daily meals. They usually use their sensitive paws to grab small critters in or near the water. Preferably in the vicinity of trees where their dens are located. They prefer to do this near bodies of water. The main reason raccoons tend to specifically eat frogs is explained by the way they hunt. While it can happen that raccoons eat poisonous frogs, it is not very common. ![]() If they happen to cross paths with a raccoon, their obvious color patterns will be enough to keep them safe. While various poisonous frogs exist in the USA, these will not commonly share a habitat with raccoons. The litter will naturally keep hunting the same type of amphibians their mom has taught them to eat. Mothers go out with baby raccoons to hunt when they are bout 8 weeks old, and eventually, a frog or toad will be part of the ‘hunting lessons’. This information is passed on between raccoon families from generation to generation. When a raccoon is able to grab a frog from a small pond before it manages to jump away, the animals will definitely do so.ĭespite being a nocturnal hunter, most raccoons have evolved to recognize which types of frogs can and cannot be eaten. About two-thirds of their food consists of prey. They are also rich in vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin B in the form of folic acid and thiamin.Īll of these elements are essential in a balanced raccoon diet. The aquatic animals are an important source of essential nutrients for the so-called trash panda.įrogs contain a lot of protein, zinc, potassium, copper, manganese, and magnesium. Apart from raccoons, frogs are also commonly eaten by foxes, opossums, skunks, coyotes, otters, and water shrews.ĭifferent from many other incidental animals they eat, frogs are actually an integral part of the raccoon diet. Frogs have a wide variety of predators on the North American continent. ![]()
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