This is probably not a solution acceptable to everyone....we have had damage to a number of plants and our cats have been terrorized by raccoons wanting to eat their food. I use a live animal trap and then take the raccoons for a ride in the country where there aren't houses nearby. Some people think it's inhumane because they have to find a new sleeping site, but if you've had them tear the siding off your house to try to get into the attic, you're ready to shoot them. Another solution may be to keep a dog around. We never had raccoons until our outdoor dog died several years ago. I think just the scent discourages the raccoons. They are terribly destructive creatures with few natural enemies and they seem be increasing their population.
