Do Raccoons Eat Water Hyacinth? Raccoons’ Diet

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Raccoons are omnivorous and opportunist eaters; the environment determines the diet they are living in; just like humans, their teeth are made to grind on anything from meat, nuts, and berries, to plants and even garbage or whatever is available. But what’s most curious to know, Do raccoons eat water hyacinth?

Yes, raccoons eat water hyacinth plants because they are very much attracted to this plant because of its beautiful pink flowers, sweet fragrance, and glossy leaves. The raccoons are also very fond of water hyacinth because it is nutritious and easy to reach in shallow water. Water hyacinths are a very easy meal for them, and they don’t have to use any effort to get them.

Water hyacinths are a tasty treat for raccoons, but there are plenty of ways to keep them out. In this article, we will discuss a lot of interesting facts about raccoons and water hyacinths.

What Animal Eat Water Hyacinth?

Raccoons enjoy a quick snack because of their laziness, and they want easy meals, and water hyacinth is very easy food for them to get their paws on.

Do Raccoons Eat Water Hyacinth?

Raccoons are omnivorous animals and eat whatever they find, from plants, insects, pet food to human food, and water hyacinth is the easiest food source for them.

They also love corn, berries, grapes, tree fruits, nuts, fish and peas, melons, rabbits, earthworms, potatoes etc. but water hyacinth is very easy to get a meal for them, and they will not miss any chance they get to destroy your garden to eat them.

How Do Raccoons Get to Water Hyacinths?

Raccoons are very intelligent and curious animals and also a creature of many talents. Swimming is also one of the many talents that they have.

Raccoons love water and love to live near ponds, lakes, or a house with a swimming pool to get an easy food source through plants. They effortlessly swim to water hyacinths and get them.

How To Keep Raccoons Away From Water Hyacinth?

Raccoons love to eat water hyacinths. But there are ways to deter them from your water plants. Some of them are given below:

  • Make access
  • Install raccoon deterrent lights.
  • By increasing the depth of your pond
  • Build a raccoon-proof fence

Make Access Tough

Raccoons are very intelligent creatures, and with all the precautions, they still find their way into your house through chimneys, roof edges, plumbing vents, and many other ways and cause great damage to your property by destroying your plants.

So don’t let them enter quickly to your property; make it challenging for them by blocking all of their entering points into your house.

Install Raccoon Deterrent Lights

Keeping raccoons away from your pond is not impossible with the help of raccoon deterrent lights. Install these lights near the water hyacinths, and this will be enough to scare them away.

By Increasing The Depth of Your Pond

Even though Raccoons do know how to swim, they are not fond of swimming and wouldn’t want to do it often because of their lazy nature. Try increasing the depth of your pond; maybe it will scare them away.

Build A Raccoon-Proof Fence

Building a raccoon-proof fence around your pond where water hyacinths are will help to stop them from entering. But remember that raccoons are great climbers and can easily climb the walls.

The most effective fence will be the electric fence. Turn it on when it’s dark as they will come at night when everyone is asleep to cause the damage.

Why Are Water Hyacinths A Problem?

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If you live near a water source, you may have seen water hyacinth floating in the water. The pretty purple plants can grow to be up to six feet tall. Although water hyacinth looks great in the water, it can be a nuisance.

 water hyacinths can grow so fast that it can cover the entire surface of the water. This plant also takes in a lot of oxygen and can make it difficult for other species to survive in the water.

Why Do Raccoons Get Attracted To Water Hyacinths?

It is not only water hyacinths that raccoons get attracted to. They are generally attracted to anything that floats on water. They also love to chew on water hyacinth because of its’s glossy thick green leaves, tatami-like scent, attractive flowers, and delicious taste attract raccoons to them.

Also, their sharp teeth make it easy for them to break down the tough fibrous roots of water hyacinths.

Are there any Advantages if Raccoons Eat Water Hyacinths?

Water hyacinth is also known to be a notorious aquatic pest because it grows so fast, forms large colonies all across the water, blocks the sunlight to reach other plants, and pushes and destroys them as it reproduces. Water hyacinth is also responsible for attracting mosquitos due to the stagnant water.

Raccoons love to eat them, so basically, they help to keep their population in check.

Is Water Hyacinth Useful?

Water hyacinths have bio-remediation properties that can be used for wastewater treatment; they clean the water by absorbing both organic and inorganic pollutants.

Why Is Water Hyacinth Bad for Raccoons?

There is nothing wrong with raccoons eating the water hyacinths. They are the fastest growing plant and can grow again in double population in only two weeks, so raccoons will help control their population.

Water hyacinth is considered toxic to humans because of its contaminated absorbing properties.

Conclusion

Raccoons are creatures that love to eat, and they do so often. They can be spotted in the wild eating just about anything, as long as it’s edible and in reach. They also love to feast on water plants and flowers like water hyacinths.

These little critters have a keen sense of smell, and they use it to hunt for food, causing you a lot of trouble, but with the proper knowledge, you can eliminate your raccoon and water hyacinth problem.

References

Raccoons: A League of Their Own, Michael Lipske