Raccoon trouble

[Newtricks]

I have a raccoon problem. A Juvenile raccoon has started trying to come into our home, whenever it shows up, I do all I can to discourage it. This evening when the cats started growling and I knew it was here, I went outside with the rack (load noise and sparks), rather than running away it ran to me and clung to me leg. What the hell am I supposed to do, I can not shoot this kid.

 

[annamaria]

Aww a sweet raccoon would be so neat to have him as a pet. Hope you don't shoot him.

 

[Gavjenks]

Those little paper-wrapped gunpowdery snap dragon things that you toss on the ground would probably do the trick. Not too mean, but very startling, especially since the source of the badness doesn't seem to be you / "ohmygod the evil is everywhere"

 

[JoeyCadigan]

Watergun!

 

[18.percent.gary]

Watergun!

...filled with ammonia.

That's how we kept them away from the feed shed on my dad's farm. The odor stays on their fur for a long time and screws up their critical sense of smell, kind of like getting sprayed by a skunk. They're smart enough to not return to the "scene of the crime" after getting sprayed once.

 

[snowbear153 83]

How to Get Rid of Raccoons: 14 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow
This is more of cleaning up an area and prevention, but maybe the homemade pepper spray might work for direct contact.

 

[WesternGuy]

I would be very careful of any direct contact with the animal as racoons are know to carry rabies. Maybe you can get someone to trap it and take it far away from where you are.

WesternGuy

 

[Newtricks]

that's not a bad idea (snap Dragons). About two months ago this little guy and two others where digging through my compost pile with a very large adult (mom) for grubs, now it's only this one that comes around. I don't want to make a pet of this critter, at the same time I believe it has as much right as I do to live in this area, just want it stop trying to enter my home. City of Los Angeles will not relocate wild animals unless they pose a threat, an animal clinging to your leg when it gets scared isn't much of a threat.

I may try ammonia, squirt gun/spray bottle filled with water doesn't work, little bastard just puts it's head down and keeps coming. I don't mind the opossums, racoons and skunks that wander through my yard, tear up the compost pile and dig in my garden, do not want them biting/fighting my cats or myself