Q: I recently spotted feces in my yard that doesn’t look like it came from a dog or cat. I suspect that it’s raccoon feces, but what does raccoon poop look like?
A: Although similar in size and shape, raccoon poop can appear different in its contents than the droppings of household pets. What does raccoon poop look like? Well, it’s often dark, long, and tubular, similar to a dog or cat poop. However, raccoon droppings can also contain visible evidence of their diet and invisible pathogens that are dangerous to pets and humans. Determining whether you have raccoons visiting your property or just a stray neighborhood cat can make all the difference in deciding what precautions to take when determining how to stop raccoons from pooping in your yard.
I’ve had my fair share of mysterious backyard droppings, and let me tell you, figuring out whether it’s a raccoon or just a wandering cat is a game-changer for keeping your yard safe. Raccoon poop isn’t just a nuisance¡ªit can carry some nasty stuff, so knowing what you’re dealing with is key. A quick tip I’ve learned: check for those telltale signs of undigested food, like berries or seeds, which cats and dogs don’t usually leave behind. If you’re unsure, snapping a photo and comparing it to online images can help, but don’t get too close without protection!
Raccoon feces is 2 to 3 inches long, and it’s dark and tubular in shape.
When looking at raccoon poop images or directly at scat in your yard, raccoon poop may not look much different than the droppings of a small or medium-size dog. Their feces are usually about half an inch to an inch in diameter and tubular in shape, typically with a break in the middle. The feces are dark in color. The exterior of raccoon poop might look brittle, almost similar in texture to tree bark. While you may not mind having a friendly outdoor cat visit your property, it’s unlikely that the poop you’re finding outdoors comes from a cat. Unlike dogs and raccoons, outdoor cats will bury their poop as a way to avoid unwanted attention from potential predators.
While an individual piece of raccoon poop is probably nothing to worry about, a pile of it can be cause for concern, according to Thomas Ward, training specialist and biologist at Critter Control. ¡°Raccoons exhibit a behavior called ¡®using a latrine,’¡± he explains. ¡°They pick a spot that is the designated ¡®bathroom,’ so you might start to notice a lot of droppings piling up in one area.¡± As raccoons are social animals and tend to stick together for security, these latrines will usually be quite large, especially if the raccoons have been in the area for a while. A raccoon latrine signals extensive raccoon presence and likely will require intervention if they’re encroaching on your property. An unpleasant odor will also accompany a raccoon latrine¡ªeven more reason why you’d want it off your property as soon as possible. Raccoon latrines can appear in a variety of places. ¡°I’ve seen droppings show up on roofs, and also in pools,¡± says Ward.
I remember spotting a pile of what I thought was just random animal droppings near my shed, only to realize it was a raccoon latrine when the smell hit me¡ªit’s not subtle! If you’re noticing these piles, especially in odd spots like your roof or near your pool, it’s a sign you’ve got regular raccoon visitors. A quick stat to keep in mind: studies suggest raccoons can produce up to a pound of feces per week in a single latrine, depending on their diet and group size. To spot a latrine, look for that brittle, bark-like texture and check for consistent piles in one area. If you’re dealing with this, sealing off access points like gaps under decks or fences can help prevent raccoons from setting up camp. A neighbor of mine used motion-sensor lights to scare them off, which worked surprisingly well!
Unlike dog poop, raccoon poop will contain bits of undigested food.
A noticeable difference between raccoon poop and dog poop is the evidence of undigested food. Whole berries or seeds are usually visible in raccoon feces, where other animals’ feces appear homogenous. This undigested food can contribute to raccoon scat’s pungent odor¡ªit’s much stronger and more unpleasant than other animal droppings. The only other animal droppings that may contain visible traces of food are from bears. However, as expected, bear scat piles are much larger in size and looser in form.
The first time I saw raccoon poop up close, I was surprised by how obvious the berry bits were¡ªalmost like a trail mix gone wrong! This happens because raccoons have a less efficient digestive system compared to dogs, which break down food more thoroughly. If you’re trying to identify scat, keep an eye out for these food remnants; they’re a dead giveaway. A handy trick I’ve picked up is to use a stick (never your hands!) to gently poke at the scat from a safe distance to check for seeds or fruit pieces. If you’re in an area with lots of fruit trees or berry bushes, expect to see more of this in raccoon droppings, especially in late summer or fall when they’re foraging heavily.
Raccoon feces can carry disease-causing pathogens that can be harmful to humans and other animals.
Raccoons aren’t just nuisance pests that eat your garbage¡ªthey can be a serious health concern. Raccoons can carry various bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Many of these agents are zoonotic, meaning they can be transferred from animals to humans. Diseases include rabies, leptospirosis, and toxoplasmosis. And like raccoons themselves, their feces can carry infectious disease-causing pathogens. Because raccoon scat can carry these harmful viruses, bacteria, and parasites, it’s important to distinguish between their feces and the droppings of other animals by reviewing raccoon poop pictures. One common parasite found in raccoon poop is roundworm, also known as Baylisascaris procyonis. Roundworm and its eggs are too small to be spotted from a distance, and they can affect humans and pets¡ªeven if you’re diligent about giving your pet its flea, tick, and worm prevention. If the eggs of roundworms are ingested or inhaled, they hatch into larvae and move into different parts of the body, sometimes causing nausea, loss of coordination, liver enlargement, loss of muscle control, and blindness. Pets will require a round of dewormer medication (available from a veterinarian), and stool samples will be necessary to confirm the presence of the worms and to determine if they’ve been eradicated. Medications like mebendazole, albendazole, and ivermectin are used for treating parasites in humans. But just because you’ve determined that the scat in your yard isn’t from a raccoon doesn’t mean that it’s totally safe. Even scat from creatures like deer has the potential to transmit germs like E. coli, so it’s safer to have a professional remove any unknown feces from your property.
I’ll be honest¡ªlearning about the health risks of raccoon poop made me rethink how casually I used to clean up my yard. The roundworm risk is no joke; studies estimate that up to 80% of raccoons in some urban areas carry Baylisascaris procyonis, and those eggs can survive in soil for years. If you’ve got kids or pets playing in the yard, it’s worth being extra cautious. A vet friend of mine once suggested keeping a small bottle of hand sanitizer nearby when checking out any suspicious droppings, just in case you accidentally touch something. If you suspect raccoon poop, don’t just scoop it up¡ªcall a pro or at least double-bag it with gloves on. And if you’ve got a sandbox or garden beds, cover them when not in use to keep raccoons from turning them into their personal bathroom.
It’s not recommended to try to move raccoon feces yourself.
With the risk involved in handling raccoon poop, it’s best to let a professional handle the process. The potential exposure to disease or bacteria is not worth the money or time you might save by doing it yourself. But if you do have to handle it, it’s best to be overly cautious. ¡°If you have to handle [the droppings], I recommend using gloves, storing and disposing of them properly, and washing your hands well,¡± advises Ward. Getting rid of raccoons is also a job for a trained professional since wild animals are often unpredictable and need to be handled by an expert. If you’re unlucky enough to have had raccoons make a latrine in your attic or within insulation, you’ll need to replace the insulation; urine and feces ruin the insulation. Prevention is the best way to keep raccoons away from your property. DIY solutions like sprays of garlic or cayenne or planting cucumber can deter raccoons. Close off any access points to your home, and make your yard less welcoming by tightly closing any garbage cans and covering water sources.
If you spot evidence of a raccoon or wild animal on your property, it’s best to call a pro to help with raccoon removal. ¡°If you’ve seen a raccoon come through your yard just once or twice, it is probably a transient raccoon that is trying to get from point A to point B and happened to cut through your yard,¡± explains Ward. ¡°If you start seeing an animal like a raccoon regularly that’s when you might want to think about taking action.¡± Raccoons are usually on your property to find some food and a safe place to rest, and they can get aggressive if they feel threatened. While you may have heard that seeing a raccoon during the day means it’s rabid, this isn’t always the case. A raccoon could be using the daylight hours to scavenge for more food or move to a new location. But do take extra caution if you see a raccoon staggering, oblivious to noise other movement, or excreting discharge from the eyes or mouth¡ªthis raccoon could be rabid.
¡°Wild animals will generally leave you alone if you leave them alone, but some more urbanized species like raccoons have adapted to feed off of the human presence, so they will go through the trash or eat from cat food and dog food bowls,¡± explains Ward. ¡°When they are a little less timid about humans, that is when the potential for a negative interaction is raised. So if it starts coming closer to the house or porch, that may be a good time to call somebody about it. [Raccoons] are one of the cuter animals that we deal with but they can be kind of aggressive or can carry diseases like rabies, so I would advise caution.¡± When it comes to interacting with wild animals, it’s often best to call in the experts to advise you on how, and if, you need to take action.
I learned the hard way that raccoons aren’t just cute bandits¡ªthey can be a real headache if they decide your property is their hangout spot. After finding a latrine in my attic, I had to shell out a few hundred bucks to replace the insulation, which was a pain. A pro tip I got from a wildlife expert: sprinkle some cayenne pepper around potential entry points¡ªit’s cheap and raccoons hate the smell. Also, securing trash cans with bungee cords or heavy lids is a game-changer; I haven’t had a raccoon tip mine over since I started doing that. If you’re on a budget, these DIY fixes can save you from bigger costs down the line, but if raccoons keep showing up, don’t hesitate to call in a professional. It’s worth the peace of mind, especially if you’ve got pets or kids around.