Raccoons are opportunistic omnivores that will eat a wide variety of foods. This includes raiding bird nests and eating eggs. Raccoons are known to prey on the nests of many different bird species and will eat any eggs they can get access to.
Birds Most Commonly Targeted by Raccoons
While raccoons will eat the eggs of many birds, there are some species that are more commonly targeted. Birds that nest on or near the ground are especially vulnerable to raccoon predation. Some of the most common bird eggs eaten by raccoons include:
- Duck eggs – Mallards, wood ducks, and other duck species often nest in tree cavities or on the ground, making their eggs easy for raccoons to access.
- Goose eggs – Canada geese and other geese species build ground nests near water, allowing easy access for raccoons.
- Turkey eggs – Wild turkey eggs are a prized food source for raccoons when they can find ground turkey nests.
- Quail eggs – Ground nesting quail species are frequent targets of egg-eating raccoons.
- Chicken eggs – Raccoons will raid domestic chicken coops for eggs whenever given the chance.
- Songbird eggs – Raccoons will eat the eggs of robins, meadowlarks, thrushes, warblers, and other songbirds that nest low to the ground or in accessible areas.
In general, raccoons target ground nesting species over tree nesting species, as ground nests are easier for them to access. However, raccoons are excellent climbers and will raid nests up to 30 feet off the ground when motivated.
Why Raccoons Eat Bird Eggs
Raccoons eat bird eggs for several key reasons:
- Highly nutritious – Bird eggs are a great source of protein and nutrients for raccoons. They provide an efficient nutritional package to help raccoons maintain their health and body condition.
- Easy to find – Bird nests are relatively easy for raccoons to locate, especially ground nests. Their keen sense of smell helps them sniff out hidden nests.
- Easy access – With their dexterous paws, raccoons are able to open or break into most bird eggs with little effort.
- Delicious taste – Raccoons seem to find bird eggs quite palatable, perhaps owing to their high fat content.
- Abundant food source – In areas where birds are common nesters, their eggs can represent an abundant, readily available food source for raccoons.
Additionally, female raccoons must consume a lot of protein rich foods like bird eggs while nursing their young. Bird eggs provide an excellent source of nutrients to support lactation and the growth of baby raccoons.
How Raccoons Get Bird Eggs
Raccoons use several tactics to get access to bird eggs, including:
- Raiding ground nests – Raccoons use their dexterous front paws to destroy nesting material and expose eggs.
- Climbing to elevated nests – Raccoons will climb trees, shrubs, man-made structures, and other elevated sites to reach nests up to 30 feet high.
- Reaching into cavities – They can fish eggs out of natural tree cavities or man-made nest boxes.
- Digging up buried eggs – Some bird species lay camouflaged or buried clutches, but raccoons can dig them up with their front paws.
- Squeezing through small openings – Raccoons can flatten their bodies to squeeze through surprisingly small openings to access nests.
- Breaking into eggs – Once raccoons have accessed eggs, they use their dexterous front paws to break the shell and feed on the contents.
Raccoons are remarkably adept at overcoming the nest defense strategies of parent birds. They are quick and agile, allowing them to grab eggs and evade attacking parents. And they seem to be willing to endure some pecking and buffeting if the payoff is a tasty egg meal.
What Raccoons Do With Bird Eggs
Once raccoons have obtained bird eggs, they have a couple options for consuming them:
- Cracking the egg open immediately – Often, raccoons will immediately crack the egg open and eat the liquid contents and yolk on the spot.
- Carrying the egg away – Raccoons sometimes carry intact eggs away from the nest site in their mouth to consume elsewhere. This helps them evade defensive parents and reduces the chances of other predators stealing their prize.
- Caching the eggs – Raccoons sometimes create food caches by hiding eggs or other foods in secluded locations. They will later return to consume these cached items.
In the spring when birds are actively nesting, a single raccoon may raid multiple nests in a night to collect a bounty of delicious eggs. By the end of the nesting season, a raccoon may consume eggs from dozens or even hundreds of bird nests.
Impact on Bird Populations
The egg predation by raccoons can negatively impact some bird populations, particularly endangered species and ground nesting waterfowl. However, most abundant bird species are well adapted to withstand normal predation pressure from native predators like raccoons. The impact of raccoon egg predation includes:
- Reduced reproductive success – When raccoons destroy complete clutches, it directly reduces the number of young birds produced.
- Lowered population growth – High levels of nest predation can lead to bird populations shrinking or stagnating.
- Stressed bird parents – Defending nests against raccoons takes time and energy away from self-care for parent birds.
- Shift in nesting locations – Some birds may adapt by nesting in less-accessible sites away from raccoon activity areas.
- Decreased nesting success – Some vulnerable bird species may avoid nesting in areas with heavy raccoon activity.
However, most healthy bird populations can withstand typical rates of nest predation. Losses to raccoons are balanced by high rates of chick survival and second nesting attempts. Predation of eggs and young is a natural ecological process.
Preventing Raccoon Egg Predation
For homeowners trying to protect backyard bird nests or poultry eggs, there are some steps that can be taken to deter raccoons:
- Remove bird feeders at night when raccoons are active.
- Use predator guards on poultry coops and pens.
- Trim back any overhanging vegetation near nests.
- Use electric fencing around apiaries, poultry houses, or other predation hot spots.
- Scare off any raccoons found approaching nests with loud sounds.
- Block access to potential nest cavities and nest boxes.
- Use chemical raccoon repellents around yards and gardens.
However completely excluding raccoons and other predators is difficult in most settings. Maintaining healthy habitat with adequate cover and raccoon denning sites can satisfy some of their natural food requirements. Discouraging raccoons from associating yards and homes with easy meals may be the most effective deterrent.
Conclusion
Raccoons are opportunistic predators of bird nests and will eat the eggs of any species they can access. Ground nesting birds like waterfowl and gamebirds are especially vulnerable. Raccoons raid nests for the highly nutritious eggs which are abundant food sources in the spring. While increased raccoon predation can reduce reproductive success for some bird populations, most healthy bird populations have adapted to sustain normal predation pressure. Homeowners can take various steps to deter raccoons from preying on backyard bird and poultry nests. But in most cases, some nest predation by this clever mammalian omnivore is inevitable.