TerryA Loc: Williamsburg, VA

Had a similar problem. Replaced the cat door with one that required an RFID tag, attached to the cat's collar, to open the door.

WAL

Get a pet door that will only open when your cat with a matching collar uses it.
No need to shoot any thing.


http://www.americas-pet-store.com/automatic-pet-doors.html

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

Around my house, you can't even leave your keys in the car.

Zonker Loc: Leesburg, FL

By any chance is the lid to that container metal? If so and the container is plastic or glass lay a piece of metal screen down put the container on it and connect it to the cold side of AC (the broad blade on the extension cord) and connect the hot side to the lid. I would wire in an in-line fuse, (Radio Shack).

It won't kill them, but it will get their attention and your problem will go away.

Or just put the lid on really tight!

bookman Loc: Southeast Michigan

I hope that is more successful for raccoons than it is for the squirrels and chipmunks that raid my bird feeders. I am up to 118 relocation trips (at about 10 miles per round trip) and counting. This stopped being cute a while back. And I live inside the village limits, not out in the sticks. :(

RichieC Loc: Adirondacks

Yeah and kill any dog or whatever may get into it... stuff like this should be outlawed. Get a have a heart and move 'em. OR make the door one way, once in, lock 'em in for the night.!

windshoppe Loc: Arizona

I found a restaurant about 8 miles away that had a nice dumpster outside, so that became my relocation destination. After 18 trips I began to think that the racoon was getting back to my house before I was. In that they had completely destroyed out cable wiring as well as the floor in our sun room I turned to my Glock 9mm. Haven't seen one for over a year. Guess the word got around.

Sierracoyote Loc: Sierra Nevada Mountains

Raccoons are really four legged Homing Pigeons with fur. Taking them 10 miles away is a walk-in-the-park for them. They are very territorial and train their young where there is a fast food place.
Skunks are another problem and probably more serious.
Move the cats' food storage inside the house and re-think where & when you feed the cat. We have a cat door too and live in the woods with all kinds of critters, big and small. If your kitty comes into your home, feed the kitty inside. Food & water outside draws not only other critters, but wasps, yellow Jackets, snakes, etc.
A ready food source is always an attraction.
You might want to set a small food bowl & water out away from the house. Bait the Raccoons into setting a pattern and maybe a Coyote will have a good dinner thanks to you. Then remove the food & water.
A good time to set up a game camera...

paulrph1 Loc: Washington, Utah

Had a similar problem so we got a have a heart trap from animal control and turn them into animal control. And the dispose of them, they do not relocate them. Wonder why?

When they eat all of my corn, that I grow in my garden, at night when I am asleep and leave nothing for me. Well...

GeorgeH Loc: Jonesboro, GA

I remember many years ago surprising a raccoon who'd been enjoying the peanut butter on our camp table. He'd taken the lid off; we remembered putting it back on.

We left the looted jar out, and the chipmunks then took over. They'd load their cheek pouches, scurry off and return for more.

Now. Since the cheek pouches have no salivary glands and are "dry", how did the little guys get the peanut butter out?

imntrt1 Loc: St. Louis

Many animal control agencies will loan you live traps to catch them in. The advice to take them many miles is a valid one...If you don't take them far enough they can find their way back. I was releasing them in a nearby park and that was an exercise in frutility....I even caught one coming into my garage and he growled at me and advanced on me....Removing their source for water and food will eventually rid you of them but catching them live and transporting them is the best answer.but also a bit of a threat because they will bite if given the opprotunity.

Flyerace Loc: Mt Pleasant, WI

I used velcro in three spots to "tape down" the lid to a 50 gallon can used to store bird seed. Prior to the velcro, the raccoons were getting into the shed and taking the lid off the can. For some reason, they haven't figured out velcro yet. Not bothered by them any more.

nakkh Loc: San Mateo, Ca

Actively harassing them when they're in your yard also discourage them from hanging around.

jelecroy Loc: Huntsville, AL

We had a similar issue with raccoons getting into bird seed. I used a metal garbage can for seed storage on the back porch, which the raccoons opened. So I ran a piece of light chain from one can handle, through the lid handle and to the other handle with a latch to secure it. That stopped the raccoons - no opposable thumbs. This appeared to make the thieves somewhat angry - they peed on top of the garbage can to express their ire.
Later they started getting to the bird feeder - which was hanging from a 3 foot chain. One would climb down the chain and shake the feeder for his friends on the ground. The noise would wake us up at night. I got a Benjamin 22 pellet rifle (Varmint kit) and applied it liberally. Since I nailed about five raccoons on consecutive nights, the rest of the tribe seems to have disappeared. The first candidate was looking at me calmly from the tree when I pulled the trigger. He appeared shocked that I could reach out from the bathroom window. After that the rest would hide behind the tree as soon as they heard the window open, but raccoons are so curious. They have to peek out from behind the tree to see what's there. Easy head shot.
The single pump pellet rifle is quiet - about like a screen door closing. No complaints from neighbors. And I was shooting from above, so any misses would end up on the ground in my back yard within ten yards of the house. No chance of flyers.

mslubner Loc: Redskin Ridge, Texas

Coons carry disease. They are mean and will attack dogs and cats and people. My advice is keep the food in the house. Feed the cats in the house. Only let them out if you have to or when you can watch them. Trap and dispatch the coons. Believe me, there are more of them than you realize, as well as possums and skunks, who all will eat and drink out of the bowls. I was in the Vet's ER one night after my doxie was attacked by a coon (when I let her out briefly to potty), when two other people ran in carrying shredded and badly injured dogs that had also been attacked in their own yards. You are feeding the coons and only helping to create more of them in your neighborhood (and I bet no one is short of coons around there) so if you're not trapping, spaying and neutering the creatures, stop encouraging larger populations. BTW, I'm a taxidermist and they make great floor lamps and hats! :-) (coons, not cats...)