Raccoons may look cute, but they pose a serious health risk and can be quite vicious if cornered. That’s on top of the damage they can do to your yard.
Knowing how to identify their poop is the first step to knowing what critter you’re dealing with so you can form a plan on action to get rid of them.
What Does Raccoon Feces Look Like?
Often the first sign of raccoon activity is spotting feces in your yard. Here’s a breakdown of what to look for during identification. Remember, never handle the poop with your bare hands and sterilize all tools immediately after!
Shape and Size
You might mistake raccoon droppings for a small doggie deposit at first. The turds are calendrical in shape and have blunt ends.
They tend to be segmented and can break apart at these points. On average, they are two or three inches long and approximately 3/4 inches in diameter.
Color and Consistency
These critters tend to leave turds that are dark and solid. It’s not unusual to find undigested fragments contained in the feces.
What’s In It?
Raccoons have a varied diet. Most commonly, you’ll find seeds, insect fragments, or bits of nut shell. In more urban settings, there may also be traces of garbage that the little pest scavenged.
Smell
Often, raccoon scat is hidden behind a wall or other surface that masks its scent, giving it a more mild odor. However, when you run into a pile in the backyard, the smell is strong and musky.
Location
While it’s not uncommon to find a raccoon latrine in your yard or garden, they can often crop up in more isolated locations the critter has access to. This includes attics, lofts, roofs, decks, wood piles, or even in your chimney.
Piles of raccoon scat are often found at the bases of trees (or even in the trees). Basically anywhere a raccoon might seek shelter from predators has the potential to become a latrine.
Raccoon Poop vs Other Animal Droppings
As these are larger critters, their poop can be mistaken for a lot of other animals. Thankfully, there are a few easy distinctions.
Raccoon or Cat/Dog?
Cats and smaller dogs have similar-looking poop to raccoons. The major difference is that raccoons tend to have food debris in their poop and the smell is musky rather than having the more distinct odor of domestic animal poop.
Raccoon or Opossum?
These two critters have very similar-looking feces. However, opossums have slightly smaller droppings with tapered ends and can be lighter in coloration.
Raccoon or Skunk?
Size is your biggest giveaway here, with skunk poop being slightly smaller in size. It also may contain feathers or fur.
Comparison Chart
| Animal | Size | Shape | Contents | Odor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raccoon | 2-3" long, 3/4" diameter | Tubular, segmented | Seeds, berries, garbage, or debris | Mild odor |
| Bat | 0.125" to 0.5" long | Tubular, segmented | Insect debris for insectivores, seeds for fruit bats, or dried blood for vampire bats | Pungent, musky odor |
| Domestic Cat | 1" long, 1/2" diameter | Segmented | Less likely to contain food remnants | Pungent, distinct odor |
| Fox | 2-3" long, 1/2" diameter | Rope-like or twisted, segmented, tapered ends | Fur, bones, or other prey remnants | Slightly pungent |
| Opossum | 1-2" long, 3/4" diameter | Elongated, tubular, slight curve | Fruits, insects, and other soft foods | Mild odor |
| Rabbit | Less than 1" | Round pellets | Plant matter | Mild odor |
| Skunk | 1-2" long, 1/2" diameter | Tubular, segmented | Seeds, insect parts, fur, or feathers | Slight musky odor |
| Snake | (S) 1-2" long, < 0.5" diameter (M) 1-3" long, 0.4-0.8" diameter (L) ≤ 12" long, 0.8-1.6" diameter | Smooth, oblong, soft or runny | Fur, bones, feathers, or other prey remnants | Faint odor to pungent |
| Squirrel | 3/8" long, 1/8" diameter | Oblong pellets | May contain traces of wood or nuts | Mild odor |
| Weasel | 1-2" long, 1/4" diameter | Elongated, tubular, often twisted/curved, tapered ends | Fur, bones, or other prey remnants | Musty or slightly pungent |
Are Raccoon Droppings Dangerous?
The excrement of this critter should be considered one of the more dangerous for you and your pets, due to the risk of rabies. However, there are a number of risks involved with coming into contact with raccoon poop, including:
Parasites
- Fleas – While not common, a flea or its eggs can become dislodged where the raccoon did its business.
- Giardiasis – This intestinal infection is caused by Giardia lamblia, a common parasite found in both public and natural water supplies. Symptoms include bloating, cramps, nausea, and diarrhea. While easy to treat, the effects can last well after the infestation is cleared up.
- Raccoon Roundworm – Baylisascaris procyconis is a nasty parasite that generally only infests raccoons. However, they’re known to infest both birds and mammals who come into contact with the eggs. The burrowing worms can damage nerves, vision, and organs. Dogs are especially susceptible and the eggs can survive up to seven years in the soil if not chemically treated.
- Ticks – Notorious for carrying Lyme disease, this nasty critter may become dislodged and end up hanging out near feces awaiting another potential host. As with fleas, this is rare, but known to happen.
Bacterial and Viral Diseases
- Leptospirosis – With similar symptoms to a cold or flu, it’s often easy to miss getting diagnosed for this infection. However, failure to get treated can lead to organ failure and other severe consequences.
- Rabies – Raccoons are one of the animals most susceptible to contracting rabies. There’s no cure for this deadly disease, although there are treatments that can help humans survive if administered immediately.
Odor and Property Damage
Homeowners might detect a slight smell from their walls, but direct exposure creates a much different experience. Up close, the poop has a strong, musky odor that’s hard to miss. The feces itself can contaminate your home and invite mold or bugs.
What to Do If You Find Raccoon Droppings
Safety is paramount when dealing with raccoon feces!
- Wear protective gear such as gloves, goggles, and a mask to avoid accidental direct contact.
- When possible, burn the feces, making sure to do so where any airborne particles won’t be inhaled.
- If burning isn’t possible, you can also seal the feces in multiple airtight bags to prevent further contamination.
- Sterilize the area thoroughly. This includes treating any soil or surface for roundworm eggs. Don’t forget to sterilize all tools or equipment used during the removal process!
- Be sure to seal any entry points so the raccoons aren’t able to get inside. Remember, they’re skilled climbers, so roof vents and chimneys cannot be ignored.
- When in doubt, call a professional. Hiring a pest control service may be both cheaper and safer than trying to confront a raccoon on your own.
Morgan is a certified entomologist and pest control consultant and a member of the National Pest Management Association.
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