Raccoons have a gastric system that is capable of breaking down almost anything, they can eat long-dead rotting corpses of another animal, they can eat other dead raccoons without any effect and they can eat garbage from years ago. They have a very strong acid in their stomach, much stronger than the sulfuric acid in human stomachs or the stomachs of other animals. They are omnivores but have a strong preference for meat. They will eat anything that they can, especially in the winter but will focus on finding meat often from already dead and partially eaten animals. While they are mostly gatherers raccoons also eat living animals. Raccoons also have a strange intestinal parasite called raccoon roundworm. It does not affect raccoons at all but humans who get feces of the raccoon in their mouth will suffer a great deal. It is incurable and will cause lesions from the worms infesting every organ in the body. They can get into the brain and cause dementia followed by a comma, blindness and death. If you see raccoon feces call a professional to clean it. Raccoons are also the vector species for a disease called rabies. They are most likely to pass it on to humans and other animals. If you have a raccoon on your property that is babbling, making strange noises and walking around in a circle then you need to call the humane society of your area and have that animal removed post haste. So if you see a raccoon acting weirdly call the humane society, and ensure that you inform them that the animal has rabies.
If you are worried about raccoons coming onto your property then there is a lot you can do to change that. When a raccoon wanders onto your property they have not decided to buy yet. It’s an open house. The raccoons are seeing if your property has what they want. They will inspect your garbage for easy access. They will see if your hose is leaking. Drainage issues? Puddles? That’s what raccoons are looking for. They will access any source of food and water on your property from licking up bird seeds to entering unsealed garbage containers. They can then also drag that food into your attic or under your deck or shed. Removing any sign of food or water, even going so far as to cut down a fruit tree will prevent the animals from wanting to come to the property again but will not stop them from exploring it. If you see a raccoon on your property and no there is nothing for it to eat or drink you can relax in knowing it will leave and not come back.