Every hunter who runs trail cameras knows the feeling. You pull the SD card hoping for a big buck, and instead you find 400 photos of raccoons. This one at least had the decency to say how he really feels about your setup.
2:45 in the morning, glowing eyes, big grin, one finger raised. If you’ve ever had raccoons empty your corn pile before a single deer showed up, you already know this is what they’re thinking.
Why Raccoons Take Over Your Trail Camera
Raccoons are nocturnal, curious and always hungry, which makes them the most common uninvited guests on trail cameras across North America. If you’re running bait or a feeder, they’ll find it, often within a night or two.
- They come for the food. Shelled corn, deer pellets and protein feed are easy calories for raccoons.
- They’re curious. Raccoons will walk right up to a camera, sniff it and grab it with their front paws, which is how you end up with close-up face shots.
- They work the night shift. Most raccoon activity happens after dark, the same hours many trail cameras are set to capture.
Why Raccoon Eyes Glow in Trail Camera Photos
The bright, glowing eyes come from a reflective layer behind the retina called the tapetum lucidum. It helps raccoons see in low light, and it bounces the trail camera’s infrared flash straight back into the lens. Deer, coyotes and cats show the same eyeshine at night.
How to Keep Raccoons Off Your Trail Camera and Feeder
- Use a raccoon-proof feeder cage, or a spin feeder hung high enough that raccoons can’t climb to it.
- Cut back on bait overnight, or set your feeder timer to go off in the morning instead of the evening.
- Mount your camera higher and angle it down, so curious paws can’t reach it.
- Check your state’s regulations before trapping or hunting raccoons. Seasons and licensing rules vary by state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do raccoons show up on trail cameras so often?
Raccoons are nocturnal, widespread across North America and drawn to bait and feeders, so they’re among the animals most often caught on trail cameras at night.
Why do animal eyes glow on trail cameras?
Many animals, raccoons included, have a reflective layer behind the retina called the tapetum lucidum. It reflects the camera’s infrared light back into the lens, which makes the eyes look like they glow.
Is this raccoon trail camera picture real?
No. This one is an AI-generated image made for laughs. But anyone who runs trail cameras has gotten a raccoon photo with this exact attitude.
Got a funny trail cam photo of your own? Share it in the comments or tag us on Facebook. The best ones might show up in a future Hunting Magazine meme roundup.
