From polished shoes to the latest iPhone to the latest Lamborghini, we are attracted to shinny things. Not only us, but raccoons are attracted and obsessed to shinny objects even more than us like their food. Last night I was coming back from work, I noticed a raccoon playing with a shiny steel ball and stole it away. That put me wonder why did raccoon steal the shiny ball instead of the food. Do raccoons like shiny things but why do raccoons like shiny things? Here’s the answer.
The To The Point Answer…
Though raccoons are always foraging food, raccoons are attracted to shiny things more than food just like blue jays. These little masked bandits like shiny and glossy things primarily due to they are attracted and are curious to know about but also to attract mates, decorate their nests, beautify, and play with. Sometimes raccoons like shiny objects assuming its a prey.
Why raccoons like are attracted and have the intellect to like shiny things is simply due to their instinct, tendency and curiosity. Thankfully, most people keep their expensive jewelry indoor which is safe, however, if found by raccoons, they will probably steal no matter how hard it is or what it is. That will put you assume it’s stolen by someone.
Not only that, raccoons will also steal bracelet, brooch, rings, earrings, necklace, and anything shiny they notice. However, if you encounter these masked bandits wearing one or any of those, you may better wear off those immediately, otherwise, they would fight, jump off from height, tear and bite you fearlessly with its paws and teeth.
Do Raccoons Like Shiny Things?
If you’ve watched Mr.Bean’s Magpie episode, you definitely know how some bird’s species like shiny things. And that isn’t limited to birds only, there are a number of birds and animals which are attracted to shiny things including humans, most birds, monkeys, mynah and some more. Like most animals, raccoons are visually oriented and sensitive that check and decide based on the looks.
However, shiny objects are quite attractive that catches attention pretty quickly. How much ever useless it be, if it’s shiny it would be pretty attractive and raccoons would want it.
Unlike dogs and cats, raccoons like shiny things for the same reason we do. Despite raccoons are mammals like us, they have also tendency to be attracted by shiny things. They definitely can’t use it like we do but they would probably love to know about, attract mates, decorate their nests, play, hold and keep in their nests. However, you can also know and differentiate raccoons nests with other animals through the shiny objects they keep.
Also, people often use shiny objects to attract raccoons that would trap them. Yet, there are always better ways to get rid of raccoons without killing or trapping them.
Why Do Raccoons Like Shiny Things?
Similar to us, raccoons are little adaptable mammals, which like shiny things, but why do raccoons like shiny objects? Here’s why.
Taking ourself as examples, why we like shiny things is simply because we are attracted. With no difference, raccoons also like shiny things primarily because they are attracted to it and are curious to know. But also it seems intersting, unique and fun. And raccoons also like shiny objects in order to attract females, decorate themselves and their nests, play and keep it.
While raccoons are quite intelligent and scavengers, they often take and try new things out, like they put food even sometimes meat (That raccoons hunt rabbits) into the water and wet their paws to know about the food. Similar to it, raccoons would really want to know the shiny object and what it does and how it works.
How raccoons use is quite different from what we do and it makes very less sense for raccoons to keep which does for us. With that though, raccoons and birds will certainly steal the shiny object whenever they find an opportunity.
Raccoon In The Yard
Why Shiny Objects Are Attractive or Eye Catchy?
Surrounded with dark objects and dark envoirment, shiny and glossy objects are attractive, draw attention and are more visible, like highlighed and stand out from the dark envoirment even in the day like yellow color which is mostly used for caution, draws attention and is easy to notice even from far away. Other than this, if you’ve a light turned on outside, you might have noticed some flies moving around.
However, not only flies, but also moths, and other animals are pretty attracted to it which is because lights are very highlighted in the dark and seems shiny that naturally draws attention of animals. Similar to it, raccoons are also nocturnal critters which are active at night in the dark that are naturally attracted to the shiny objects espically in the night that many things seems bright and shiny which doesn’t seem in the day. That’s the same for humans according to the Belgian researchers.
Why Do Raccoons Steal Shiny Things?
While raccoons are masked bandits, they often steal things from the people even snatch from hands especially food that includes squirrels, but also shinny things.
As stealing is pretty common to racoons, they steal whatever they want and are attracted to and would do everything to get it and won’t let it go until it has achieved which includes shiny objects. Why raccoons steal shiny things is obviously because they are attracted to it. And why they are attracted to it is for the same reason we are attracted to it which is natural. In fact, it is our and raccoons tendency and instinct to be attracted by shiny objects like we do.
How we and most animals including raccoons are attracted to shiny objects is related of water that also shines under light, day and night. However, being water one of the most important thing after food, thus, people has always been searching for water considering its shiny for thousands of years that has adapted in our consciousness and so we still are attracted to shiny objects.
Which Shiny Objects Are Liked By Raccoons The Most?
Living in urban areas, there are many shiny objects, jeweleries, gems, crystals, pearls, silver and more. Though all shiny objects are liked by raccoons, however, small, round, yellowish and making high pitched noise objects are liked the most. Like shiny coins, bells, steel balls, and things similar to it. However, moving things like balls and sparkling like lights are the ones that raccoons quite love.
As mirrors reflect things, it often seems shiny to raccoons and so they love mirrors and will steal it when find the opportunity. Like if you place a bright object like light, a bright button or something out of steel, raccoons will probably approach and steal it.
What Else Do Raccoons Like?
Nothing compared to food is important to raccoons except shiny objects. While raccoons are omiverse, they like food the most but are curious about shiny objects that can be a polished shoes, high heels, braclet and anything glossy and shiny.
Which Animals Are Attracted To Shiny Objects?
Other than raccoons, there are some animals mostly birds which are attracted to shiny objects. Birds like Blue Jay, Mynah, Magpie, Crows , Jackdaw Cockatiels, Parakeets and monkeys like Apes and squirrels, raccoons are attracted to shiny objects. The more intelligent, the more curious and attracted.
In fact, young crows have been seen playing and stealing shiny objects numerous times which they use to attract females.
Final Thoughts
Like babies and young kids, raccoons are attracted to shiny objects that are more visible and highlighted. With no idea of what it is, they are naturally and instinctly attracted and driven to the shiny object no matter what it is. What raccoons do with it is playing, decorating and keeping it with themselves somehow like we do. Why raccoons do it is simply their tendency and instinct which isn’t taught or trained to do.
While raccoons are opportunistic critters they will steal shiny objects whenever they can. However, wearing braclets, necklace or any other shiny objects are easily spotted by raccoons, so whenever you encounter a raccoon, wear off those items unless they will steal those from your neck, wrist or any other place instead of food if you’ve in hand.
