Raccoons & Ripe Corn
- Raccoons are nocturnal animals that will eat a wide variety of foods. They will go after most vegetables that grow in your garden and will also eat eggs and kill chickens. Raccoons like grapes, melons and sweet corn more than other vegetables. Raccoons may travel in groups and are very compatible with human habitation, not only enjoying human food but living in barns, outbuildings and other human-created shelter. When confronted with humans, raccoons will run away if they have the chance. Don't corner a raccoon and attempt to pick it up because it will fight back viciously.
- Corn has little appeal for raccoons until it is ripe. As you are watching your corn ripen towards the end of the season, rest assured that the raccoons are doing the same. They can tell when the corn is ripe and ready to eat and will usually come after it a few days before you intend to harvest it.
- Farmers and other corn growers have attempted many methods of protecting corn from raccoons, with varying results. Techniques include leaving a radio on in the garden, installing lights with motion sensors attached, urinating around the garden and surrounding the garden with an electric fence. The effectiveness of these methods depends largely on how many alternatives the raccoons have. If they are hungry and have no other food source, raccoons may defy all of these defenses to get at your corn.
- Approaching raccoons with the understanding that they are simply following their natural impulses will help you to coexist with them better than waging war. One of the most effective ways of getting some corn with raccoons around may be to simply grow three times more corn than you need. This way, unless you are truly inundated with an army of raccoons, they can eat their fill and you will still have some to enjoy.
