I couldn't figure out why my pool steps were so muddy all the time and then I realized hey those are raccoon paws. So I managed to catch about 3 of them sitting on the pool steps. I figured they were just cleaning their paws.

This didn't happen often but 2 summers ago it was happening daily. And then I thought what if they are swimming in the pool, what if they tear the liner. So I started covering up the steps with a very large piece of plywood. Now I am reading about pooping in pools so yikes, glad I started this.

The first night I did this, the gang was very vocal about their displeasure but they still seem to keep coming for nightly visits beause things are knocked over, small animals torn apart, and I have a path now worn into the grass where they drag their tails. They enter in the exact same spot. You put anything anywhere on this path, they move it. Bwah.

I keep the solar cover on the pool every night as well to discourage the gang but once I did see one of the raccoons dip his head into the pool in the small area not covered by the solar cover.

I don't keep garbage or food of any kind outside and with the pool steps covered I don't know why they keep visiting. At least they haven't hit the roof or attic as best I can tell.

Cleaning up the garden last week, found their occasional latrine. Lovely. Cleaned it up, sprinked the area with Critter Ridder. Few days later my raccoon friends left an even bigger fresh pile, laughing at me, you wasted your money on that stuff lady. So I think I will try just cayenne pepper but just buy it from the bulk store.

They can't seem to climb my fence anymore since I replaced a wood fence with a PVC fence but they come in at one precise spot under the fence where they have worn that path. I have put heavy cement blocks in front of it and they have moved them. Chicken wire might be the next move.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/15/united...

SO FREAKING CUTE! I'm having difficulty containing myself. :)

Also the funniest thing about him and his raccoon “pals” are that they come out at dusk, especially in the summer and will rip anything apart that even looks like a toy if we leave it in the yard. We learned this the hard way last summer when several raccoons including “Bob” were swimming in our kids pool. They had a great time ripping holes in the pool and watching the waterfall action they were creating, like a bunch of teenagers creating havoc and loving it. Then they ate our Nerf baseball bat, 2 beach balls, one soccer ball and a couple of swim toys. My wife and I saw some of it happen and were too late to stop them. You should have seen the looks on their faces when they found out they were being watched…priceless! We also tried to record it for laughs but when I can back with the camera the “hooligans” had high tailed it (pun intended) out of there. Anyway we learned our lesson and have can't leave anything out anymore unless it can't be chewed on/with. I think there could be a kids book about “Bob” the Ballard Raccoon!

regarding animal control- i called them about a racoon that was out during the middle of the day about 5 years ago- they said it is common to see them out in daylight in the city as their nests are frequently disturbed by construction.

Which, by the way, looks to be an amazing film this holiday season!

And no, we never got sick, our 4 cats never got hurt and garbage was never broken into.

Cause that would put that posse of 6 or 8 I saw running just a little bit south of the area. I saw them in the trees of the western most border at the locks. They were making their way up from the steep slope and fence nearest the water, to cross the wooded area, to go over the other fence opposite the 7/11 so they could head down into the parking lot. Their marching was nearly in line with a coop I've seen in that section of 56th. However, this did not occur to me at the time, which was several months ago.

Signed,
Skinny gal with Chicago roots.