Can Raccoons Eat Chocolate? (Can you feed it to them)

Most of us like to eat chocolate as a rich, creamy, and delicious snack. We usually share chocolate with our friends but when it comes to sharing them with our furry friends like raccoons etc., it raises some questions. Whether you are the best friend of your pets or a wildlife lover, this article will help you to find the answer to the question…

Can raccoons eat chocolate? No, raccoons shouldn’t eat chocolate. Though raccoons are omnivores and can eat anything that humans do, they should not be allowed to eat chocolate because of the presence of theobromine and caffeine in this sweet treat. Raccoons cannot digest both of these compounds found in a bar of chocolate. Raccoons can become hyperactive, start vomiting, have tremors, diarrhea, develop seizures, and can even die after eating chocolate. So instead of chocolate, you can give fruits to your raccoon if you want to give him a treat. 

Raccoon eating a chocolate bar
Raccoon eating a chocolate bar

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What is the nature of raccoons? 

By nature, raccoons are not liked very much as a pet. They have a bad reputation to remain dirty and carry rabies. However, they can be good companions at home if you keep them as a pet.

How chocolate affect raccoons? 

Though chocolate offers several health benefits because it offers many powerful minerals still raccoons cannot eat it because it can dangerous for them. It can be life-threatening food for raccoons. Although dark chocolate is considered beneficial for humans because of its antioxidant and age delaying properties as well as potential to ease stress and pain still it can increase the risk of obesity and cancer after a certain dose. 

The benefits of chocolate do not apply to raccoons because of theobromine, caffeine, and cocoa beans in it. Raccoons cannot digest all these ingredients in a bar of chocolate. 

Raccoons can be hyperactive, have tremors, diarrhea, abnormal heartbeat, abnormal health conditions, and vomit after eating chocolate. According to experts, 1 ounce of cocoa powder in chocolate can cause severe health problems to raccoons. 

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What can raccoons eat? 

Normally raccoons can eat anything including animals and plants as they are omnivores by nature. In the wild raccoons are exotic creatures and are fond of eating water-related foods like eggs, crayfish, fruits, foraged berries, acorns plants, and nuts, etc. but they usually do not like to eat chocolate. 

Being omnivores raccoons can eat anything including vegetables and meat like us humans because they have teeth to chew plants and meat with equal ease. To know what it’s eating a raccoon uses his paws. Because of reducing the natural places to live-in due to increasing urbanization raccoons today like to live with humans.

Though in the wilderness raccoons used to eat berries, fruits, worms, nuts, insects, reptiles, and amphibians, in urban areas they can eat whatever they find including fast food, meat, pieces of bread, and vegetables, etc. In captivity, they can eat fruits, chicken, vegetables, fish and eggs, etc. 

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What fruits can raccoons eat? 

Raccoons like to eat sweet fruits like peaches, plums, apples, etc. Some of them also like to eat cherries, mulberries, and apricots. Initially, raccoons come closer to the fruits fallen on the ground which were not picked by the gardener but instead of eating them they usually climb on the tree to eat fruits on the branches because they are skillful climbers

What foods are fatal for raccoons? 

  • Spices like garlic and onions can be dangerous for raccoons because of the nutrients and chemical compounds they have which can cause problems like hemolytic anemia to raccoons. 
  • Macadamia nuts and raisins can also be dangerous for raccoons because of the toxic effect of concentrated minerals in them on their intestine. They also increase the growth of roundworms specifically found in raccoons. 
  • Cow milk can also be harmful to raccoons because the concentration of vitamin D and other compounds in them is not suitable for them as they can have adverse reactions to their stomach and can cause indigestion. 
  • Yeast and bread are also not suitable for raccoons as they can cause fungal infection in them. Raccoons usually eat bread when they are desperate to eat something. 

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Raccoons’ diet consists of about 40% invertebrates, 33% plant material, and 27% vertebrates.