Are Racoons a predator to a squirrel???

[puddinpie]

I feed my wild grey squirrels here when they visit my back yard which is all the time :). I saw a racoon on my back porch two nights ago, I did not think anything of it since we have Racoons who eat in our garbage here in the City of Chicago. Well I had one of my squirrels eating a couple nuts out on my back porch about 20 minutes ago, I mean it is already getting dark by now, he is a straggler. Well I happened to look out my window and I saw the same Racoon on my back porch and at the same time I saw my little wild grey going down the steps!!! I mean I am guessing the squirrel saw the Racoon coming up the porch and he went down using the side rail or whatnot. What is odd is that I would have thought that the squirrel would have Ran for dear life but he did not. He just went on his way. I mean the racoon did not even seem interested in the squirrel( maybe he did not even see him, I dont know). I was kind of freaked out. I mean do racoons go after squirrels??? I dont want that to happen!!! I did not shoo the racoon away as I was afriad it would then spot the squirrel and go after it. I did see the Racoon drink out the water bowl that we have out there for our squirrels and birds. We rinse it out every night though so it has fresh water every morning. Should I be worried? I mean do Racoons go after squirrels normally?

[Milo's Mom]

Yes, racoons are considered a predator. They are part of the reason there are predator guards on nest boxes...to keep the racoons from reaching and grabbing babies.

Racoons also carry roundworm....DEADLY to squirrels.

[puddinpie]

So Racoons actually raid squirrels nests in trees?? Here in the city where I live, there are no nest boxes really. How would I keep the squirrels safe from getting roundworm if the squirrels and racoons cross the same paths everyday?? Do all racoon carry this roundworm? I know from what I heard squirrels pick it up through eating the racoons poop or getting it on their paws and ingesting it right? They cant catch it through drinking in the same water bowel or bird bath can they??? I was just so shocked that the wild squirrel did not even seem phased by the racoon. Would a racoon attack a grown squirrel to eat them???







Yes, racoons are considered a predator. They are part of the reason there are predator guards on nest boxes...to keep the racoons from reaching and grabbing babies.

Racoons also carry roundworm....DEADLY to squirrels.

[stepnstone]

Would a racoon attack a grown squirrel to eat them???

If the mood strikes it, it's a predator... :dono
I've seen a supposed "pet" raccoon jump on a bird that
landed too close and rip it to shreds, not pretty! :shakehead

[virgo062]

I see Raccoons and greys co-mingle here.....Not very often because the Greys are usually in their nest when the Raccoons come out for the night. It's rare to see a cooney in the daylight hours I tend to watch them a little closer when I see one. That being said let me get on my soapbox for a moment. If we would stop all the destruction of trees nocturnal animals could sleep during the day because their food would be plentiful at night.When you are hungry you will change your God given ways to eat....:soapbox

[puddinpie]

I leave water out for my squirrels as well. I have several watering stations( I set bowls of water out in different places in my back yard.). Is it dangerous if a racoon drinks out of that same bowl, meaning can the squirrels pick something up from the racoons from drinking from the same bowl they do?? I dont mind the racoon getting a drink, I just dont want him to bring any harmful diseases ( racoon roundworm) here to my wild greys since they do eat here.... Any advice?

[virgo062]

This coming from the biggest worrier in the world...I think you are over thinking this:poke My favorite saying that Rick hates..."It is what it is:)"

All God's creatures have to drink water:thumbsup

[bobby taylor]

Yes they prey on squirrels. They will reach their hands in a flying squirrel box and pull them out and eat them. At times they mix and mingle, but a hungry coon will eat most anything and dont trust one!! My wilds are scared of them. I had a big box above their released pen and something pulled a lot of stuffings out of the box and from that time they have been sleeping in their release pen and that has been several months. They seem to be pretty smart boyz. When they get really bad I catch them and release them on down the road. Gotta run Sally, my house squirrel, just hide a grape in one of my shoes and if I forget I will have to change sox. Hope I was able to help.

[puddinpie]

Thanks for the info. Ha ha, your little Sally sounds so cute! :)







Yes they prey on squirrels. They will reach their hands in a flying squirrel box and pull them out and eat them. At times they mix and mingle, but a hungry coon will eat most anything and dont trust one!! My wilds are scared of them. I had a big box above their released pen and something pulled a lot of stuffings out of the box and from that time they have been sleeping in their release pen and that has been several months. They seem to be pretty smart boyz. When they get really bad I catch them and release them on down the road. Gotta run Sally, my house squirrel, just hide a grape in one of my shoes and if I forget I will have to change sox. Hope I was able to help.

[Southern Wildlife]

If anybody is putting up housing boxes for squirrels please make sure they predator proof because raccoons will for sure go after squirrels especially young ones. late winter early spring when little food is available the raccoons will raid nests and kill all in it. I have seen this personally a few times and have found evidence of it many more. I have had people call me and tell me about animal noises in the attics and when I show up all that is left is a few bloody tracks and an angry mama squirrel. No squirrel is a match for a hungry raccoon.

[astra]

I leave water out for my squirrels as well. I have several watering stations( I set bowls of water out in different places in my back yard.). Is it dangerous if a racoon drinks out of that same bowl, meaning can the squirrels pick something up from the racoons from drinking from the same bowl they do?? I dont mind the racoon getting a drink, I just dont want him to bring any harmful diseases ( racoon roundworm) here to my wild greys since they do eat here.... Any advice?
yes, there is a chance that raccoons drinking the same water may pass something on to squirrels.

But, the bigger and more immediate problem will be raccoons making a habit of coming to your place for water. THAT will jeopardize squirrels. Even though raccoons are nocturnal, they are often active early at dawn and dusk - when squirrels are already/still out.

What you can do is empty all water in the evening before night.
Same goes for food - if you feed squirrels, never leave food out for the night, because that WILL attract raccoons and they WILL get used to coming to your place for food.

Moreover, if they do get used to coming to your place for food, you WILL start seeing raccoon poop, and THAT is the primary source of raccoon roundworm.
You do not want raccoons getting used to your place, eating and pooping.
b/c roundworm is a danger not only to squirrels but domestic pets and people.

So, if you do not leave anything at night - food and /or water - raccoons will not be habituated to your place.
Also, nightly food and water may attract rats, and as much as I love rats, squirrels and rats are not friends either.

it, sure, would be nice if we could all be friends, but... in the wild it's different. If one wants to befriend prey animals, one had better not befriend that prey animal's predators at the same place

[Southern Wildlife]

yes, there is a chance that raccoons drinking the same water may pass something on to squirrels.

But, the bigger and more immediate problem will be raccoons making a habit of coming to your place for water. THAT will jeopardize squirrels. Even though raccoons are nocturnal, they are often active early at dawn and dusk - when squirrels are already/still out.

What you can do is empty all water in the evening before night.
Same goes for food - if you feed squirrels, never leave food out for the night, because that WILL attract raccoons and they WILL get used to coming to your place for food.

Moreover, if they do get used to coming to your place for food, you WILL start seeing raccoon poop, and THAT is the primary source of raccoon roundworm.
You do not want raccoons getting used to your place, eating and pooping.
b/c roundworm is a danger not only to squirrels but domestic pets and people.

So, if you do not leave anything at night - food and /or water - raccoons will not be habituated to your place.
Also, nightly food and water may attract rats, and as much as I love rats, squirrels and rats are not friends either.

it, sure, would be nice if we could all be friends, but... in the wild it's different. If one wants to befriend prey animals, one had better not befriend that prey animal's predators at the same place


Very well said!

[puddinpie]

Astra: Thanks for the info, very much appreciated! I also feed our birds, the squirrels and birds get along fine from what I see, they do not bother each other. I put the seed down on the ground. Should I be sweeping the millet and seeds up at night, would the bird seed attract a racoon?