Will Raccoons Eat Blueberries

Raccoons will eat blueberries, and they’re actually one of the many fruits these clever little foragers enjoy when they can find them.
 
If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Will raccoons eat blueberries if I leave them out?” the short answer is a resounding yes.
 
Blueberries are sweet, bite-sized, and packed with nutrients, which makes them a tempting snack for a hungry raccoon.
 
In this post, we’ll look at why raccoons eat blueberries, how they find them, and what that means for your garden or backyard bushes.
 
Let’s dig in.
 

Why Raccoons Will Eat Blueberries

Raccoons will eat blueberries, and there are plenty of reasons why these berries top their snacking list.
 

1. Raccoons Are Opportunistic Omnivores

The main reason raccoons eat blueberries is that they’re opportunistic omnivores.
 
This means they’ll eat just about anything they can get their paws on, from insects and small animals to fruits, nuts, and vegetables.
 
That flexible diet is exactly why raccoons will happily eat blueberries when the berries are ripe and within reach.
 

2. Blueberries Are Sweet and Nutrient-Rich

Raccoons eat blueberries because the berries are naturally sweet and full of vitamins, antioxidants, and hydration.
 
For a wild animal that spends its nights foraging, a bush full of ripe blueberries is a high-energy jackpot.
 
Wild raccoons eat blueberries not just for the taste but also for the quick energy boost the natural sugars provide.
 

3. Raccoons Have a Great Sense of Smell

Raccoons will find blueberry bushes thanks to their incredibly keen sense of smell.
 
Ripe blueberries give off a sweet aroma that raccoons can pick up from a good distance, especially after dark.
 
That’s why raccoons eat blueberries from garden bushes so easily, even if the berries are tucked behind leaves.
 

4. Their Paws Are Built for Picking

Raccoons eat blueberries with surprising dexterity because their front paws work almost like little hands.
 
This lets raccoons pick blueberries right off the branch, which is why they can strip a bush quickly once they find it.
 

How Raccoons Eat Blueberries in Your Yard

So how do raccoons eat blueberries when they visit your garden?
 

1. They Target Ripe Berries First

When raccoons eat blueberries, they usually go for the ripest, sweetest fruit on the bush.
 
Raccoons will eat blueberries that are soft and deep blue, leaving the green ones behind to ripen later.
 

2. They Visit Mostly at Night

Raccoons eat blueberries under the cover of darkness, since these animals are largely nocturnal.
 
That means you might wake up to find your blueberry bushes picked clean without ever seeing the raccoons eat blueberries right in front of you.
 

3. They’ll Also Eat Fallen Berries

Raccoons eat blueberries that have dropped to the ground just as readily as the ones on the branch.
 
So if raccoons will eat blueberries from your lawn, keep an eye on fallen fruit too.
 

Are Blueberries Safe for Raccoons to Eat?

Blueberries are safe for raccoons to eat, and they’re a natural part of a raccoon’s diet in the wild.
 

1. Blueberries Are Non-Toxic to Raccoons

Raccoons eat blueberries without any toxicity concerns, because blueberries aren’t harmful to them.
 
That’s part of why raccoons will eat blueberries so freely when they come across them.
 

2. Raccoons Eat Blueberries in Moderation

In the wild, raccoons eat blueberries as part of a varied diet rather than as their only food source.
 
So while raccoons will eat blueberries, they balance them out with insects, plants, and other foods.
 

3. Wild Raccoons Eat Blueberries Naturally

Raccoons eat blueberries and other berries as part of their normal foraging routine across North America.
 
This long history is exactly why raccoons will eat blueberries without hesitation.
 

How to Stop Raccoons From Eating Your Blueberries

If you’d rather raccoons didn’t eat blueberries from your garden, a few simple steps can help.
 

1. Use Netting or Caging

Covering your bushes with bird netting or a small cage makes it harder for raccoons to eat blueberries.
 

2. Harvest Berries Early

Pick ripe berries as soon as they’re ready so raccoons will eat blueberries you’ve already gathered instead.
 

3. Secure Your Trash and Compost

Since raccoons eat blueberries and plenty of other scraps, locking up trash and compost reduces the reasons raccoons will visit your yard at all.
 

4. Add Motion or Light Deterrents

Motion-activated lights and sprinklers can startle raccoons before they eat blueberries from your bushes.
 

So, Will Raccoons Eat Blueberries?

Raccoons will eat blueberries, and they’ll happily do so whenever the berries are ripe and easy to reach.
 
Blueberries are sweet, nutritious, and non-toxic to raccoons, which is why raccoons will eat blueberries from bushes, gardens, and the ground.
 
Hope this post has helped you understand why raccoons eat blueberries and how to protect your harvest if you’d rather they didn’t.