So my city has a decent coon population that locals will feed (everyone swears it keeps them out of the trash, which makes sense). Problem is, they get junk food. Marshmallows, fried chicken, stuff like that. Lately I've been giving a coon that lives nearby some peanuts, fruit and vegetables. Is it okay for me to do this, or should I stop altogether?
Please don’t feed raccoons anything. Doing so creates a pest problem in the area and sets up a potentially really bad disease vector.
Feeing raccoons only keeps them out of the trash because there’s an easier source of food - people. What it doesn’t prevent, though, is them learning to associate humans with food. This habituation leads them to be much more bold around humans, potentially to the point of aggression, and to spend more time in close proximity to people.
Most importantly, though, is that raccoons are a rabies vector species and can also carry other diseases like distemper. You do not want these diseases to be introduced to your neighborhood or your pets. Rabies kills - and animals even just suspected of being carriers must be euthanized to test for it if they’ve had any sort of contact with people or other pets.
Feeding wild animals - but especially ones as smart and capable of being major nuisances as raccoons - is a really good way to get them killed, and get people or other animals injured in the process.
