I have a live trap out hoping to catch one ...
That's what I do too.
Then I shoot them.
I just shot one not too long ago. I think it was diseased. It wouldn't leave the porch. Then Misha got it and I can tell you that a raccoon is no match for a bitchy Akita. I hate shooting critters for no reason, I prefer that they just go away, but I have no real problem doing what has to be done.
FWIW, I trim back the trees from my fence line to keep the raccoon a little farther away. It won't stop them, but it does discourage them. I've had far fewer on my porch in the past couple of years since I started keeping the tree branches trimmed back a bit.
I never feed my dogs outside. But I also don't see any evidence that anyone else in this thread is doing that.I have no problem dispatching an animal if it is diseased or dying, but the post I responded to was just disgusting in my opinion. MOST of these are not diseased. They are hungry, and we give them a free meal when we keep dog and cat food out longer than our animals eat. To kill one for doing what is natural is just disgusting.
'Coons also love sardines.
I like sardines too, much to the dismay of my family.