Raccoons are smart—too smart. If you’ve ever visited Cozumel, Tulum, or any other tourist-heavy areas in Quintana Roo, Mexico, you’ve probably come across a bold little raccoon or coati begging for food. They’ll stare you down with those big eyes, maybe even stand on their hind legs, and look at you like they haven’t eaten in days. And what do most tourists do? They hand over a tortilla chip.
I get it—it’s hard to say no to a raccoon. They know exactly how to make themselves seem irresistible. But here’s the thing: feeding raccoons human food is incredibly harmful—both for them and for the people around them.
Why You Shouldn’t Feed Tortilla Chips to Raccoons in Mexico (Even If They Ask Nicely)
1. Tortilla Chips Are Junk Food for Raccoons
Raccoons may be opportunistic eaters, but that doesn’t mean they should be eating everything—especially human foods like tortilla chips.
Tortilla chips are incredibly unhealthy for raccoons, no matter how much they beg. The high salt content overloads their system, leading to kidney problems and high blood pressure. Tortilla chips are also are empty calories with no real nutrition, replacing the protein-rich diet raccoons need to survive. Even worse, processed carbs in chips can also cause blood sugar spikes, increasing their risk of diabetes, a condition raccoons are already prone to.
Raccoons might look cute eating chips, but behind the scenes, feeding them is setting them up for long-term health problems.
2. Feeding Raccoons Makes Them More Aggressive
One of the biggest problems with tourists feeding raccoons is that raccoons don’t understand personal boundaries.
When people feed them, raccoons start associating humans with food—and not just certain humans, but all humans. This means:
- They start approaching tables uninvited. At beach clubs in Cozumel, raccoons have learned that food comes in wrappers. They climb onto tables, steal bags, and even open backpacks.
- They become bolder and less afraid. Wild animals should be wary of humans—it keeps them safe. When raccoons lose that fear, they wander into unsafe areas and get into dangerous situations.
- They can become aggressive if they don’t get what they want. There have already been reports of raccoons biting tourists in Cozumel, Tulum, and other parts of Mexico, often because the person fed them at first and then stopped. If a raccoon expects food and you don’t give it to them, they may grab, scratch, or bite out of frustration.
Feeding raccoons doesn’t just change their behavior—it puts everyone around them at risk.
3. It’s Hurting Cozumel's Endangered Pygmy Raccoon
Most people don’t realize that Cozumel, Mexico is home to one of the most endangered mammals in North America—the pygmy raccoon (Procyon pygmaeus). Found nowhere else on Earth, this species is critically endangered, with fewer than 250 individuals left in the wild. Pygmy raccoons are even more threatened by habituation than common raccoons are. This problem is made worse when tourists feed them. Feeding encourages raccoons to stay near people instead of foraging naturally, exposing them to unhealthy human food that harms their health. It also increases their risk of being hit by cars or harmed by people who see them as pests. This isn’t just a minor issue—it’s a cycle that pushes an already endangered species closer to extinction.
4. Tourists Are Making the Problem Worse—Even If They Don’t Mean To
Most tourists in Cozumel don’t even realize the pygmy raccoon exists, and studies show they often treat them just like the common raccoons they see back home—without understanding they’re a completely different, critically endangered species. Even feeding common raccoons, which aren’t at risk of extinction.
Unfortunately, many tourists ignore warnings about feeding them. Beach club staff report that visitors will say “ok” when told not to feed the raccoons, only to turn around and do it anyway. Some parents even encourage their children to feed them, treating it as a fun vacation moment rather than recognizing the harmful and dangerous impact it has.
Locals are actively trying to stop this behavior, but it remains a challenge. Beach club staff have already seen the negative effects—habituated raccoons cost businesses money because tourists send back food if a raccoon touches it. Raccoons are now smashing doors, breaking into bars and restaurants, and even drinking alcohol because they’ve learned that human spaces mean free food. Despite efforts to educate visitors, many tourists simply aren’t listening, making it frustrating for those who are trying to protect both the raccoons and the businesses.
If you truly care about wildlife, one of the best things you can do in Cozumel is respect the locals’ efforts and stop feeding the raccoons.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Let the Raccoons Trick You!
Raccoons may look cute and hungry, but trust me—they’re professionals at getting what they want. They don’t need your tortilla chips. In fact, feeding them does far more harm than good.
Next time you’re in Cozumel, Tulum, or anywhere else raccoons are begging for snacks, resist their adorable schemes. Keep your food to yourself, respect the wildlife, and help protect the critically endangered pygmy raccoon—because the best way to love raccoons is to let them stay wild.
