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Raccoons get a lot of blame as goat killers, but the reality is more nuanced than most people think. They’re not major predators of goats the way coyotes or stray dogs are, but they do pose real threats in certain situations.
Can raccoons kill goats?
A healthy adult goat has very little to fear from a raccoon. Raccoons weigh 10 to 30 pounds and aren’t built to take down an animal several times their size.
Newborn kids are a different story. A raccoon will absolutely go after a vulnerable kid, especially one born at night in an unsecured area.
They’re opportunistic feeders that target easy meals, not organized hunters.
How do raccoons kill goats?
Raccoons don’t chase down goats or set up ambushes. They go after the easiest target available, which means newborn kids, injured animals, or afterbirth during kidding season.
A raccoon will bite and claw at a small kid, usually going for the head, neck, or abdomen. If a doe kids overnight in an open pasture, that newborn is at risk before the mother can clean it and get it on its feet.
Knowing how many babies goats typically have helps you prepare adequate protection for each kid.
The real danger: disease
The biggest raccoon threat to your goats isn’t physical attack. It’s disease.
Raccoons carry rabies, and a single bite near the barn can expose your herd. They also carry leptospirosis, which spreads through contaminated urine and water and causes kidney failure in goats.
Raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis) is another serious concern. Raccoons shed roundworm eggs in their droppings, and goats can pick them up while grazing or eating contaminated feed.
Baylisascaris infections can be fatal with no reliable treatment once symptoms appear.
What are some preventative measures you can take to protect your goats from raccoons?
Store all goat feed in sealed metal containers with secure lids. Open feed bags are an invitation for raccoons, and every visit means contaminated droppings near your goats.
Good fencing that goats can’t climb over also helps keep predators out.
Lock up does and newborn kids at night during kidding season. A simple enclosed stall with a solid door keeps raccoons out.
Use hardware cloth instead of chicken wire on any openings, because raccoons tear through chicken wire easily.
What should you do if you find a raccoon attacking your goats?
Make loud noise to scare it off and get between the raccoon and your goats if you can do it safely. Don’t try to handle it with bare hands since a cornered or rabid raccoon will fight back.
Check your goats for bite wounds immediately. Any goat bitten or scratched by a raccoon needs a vet exam as soon as possible due to the rabies risk.
For minor wounds, you can apply Neosporin as a first aid measure while waiting for the vet. If raccoons keep coming back, set live traps and contact your local wildlife agency about removal options.
Additional information about raccoons and other predators that may threaten your goats
Raccoons are a nuisance predator, but they’re not in the same league as the animals that kill the most goats. Domestic dogs running loose are the number one killer of goats in most areas, followed closely by coyotes.
Foxes will also take young kids, similar to raccoons. In western states, mountain lions and bears are serious threats that need much more strong fencing and guardian animals.
The key with raccoons is managing what draws them in. If they have no access to feed, water troughs, or vulnerable kids, most will move on to easier pickings.
What animals can protect goats from predators?
Keeping rams away from goat bucks is also important for overall herd safety, though that’s an internal threat rather than a predator one. A livestock guardian dog is your best defense against raccoons and most other predators.
Great Pyrenees, Anatolian Shepherds, and Maremmas will patrol at night when raccoons are active, and their scent alone keeps most raccoons away.
Llamas and donkeys also work well as guardians. They’re naturally aggressive toward small predators and will chase raccoons, coyotes, and foxes out of the pasture without hesitation.
If you get a guardian dog, raise it with your goats from puppyhood so it bonds with the herd.
Final Thoughts
Raccoons aren’t the goat-killing machines they’re sometimes made out to be. A full-grown goat in decent health has nothing to worry about.
The real risks are to newborn kids left unprotected at night and to your whole herd through disease exposure. Keep feed locked up, secure the barn, bring does inside during kidding season, and clean up any raccoon droppings near feeding areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
A healthy adult goat has very little to fear from a raccoon. However, newborn kids are vulnerable, especially those born at night in unsecured areas. The bigger raccoon threat is disease, including rabies and raccoon roundworm.
A raccoon is a medium-sized mammal that's found throughout much of North America and parts of Europe. They have thick, gray fur, with lighter coloring around the eyes, muzzle, and chin.
Raccoons are opportunistic feeders that target easy meals like newborn kids, injured animals, or afterbirth during kidding season. They typically bite and claw at a small kid, going for the head, neck, or abdomen.
There are many things that you can do to prevent raccoons from targeting your goats. For starters, it's a good idea to make sure that your fences are in good condition and tall enough to keep the animals safe.
