The animal authorities have changed their thoughts on moving problem wild animals, precisely because once an animal is trapped he is too smart to be caught again. Check with your county on the solution to your problem. Al

They did a study of moving racoons to wild areas, and found that they found their way back to the same area! Was published in the LA Times last year, and the study was done in Oakland, I believe.

Possums are the good guys, send them my way to eat snails. Indiscriminant use of poisons (snail, rat, etc) have decimated the population here, along with other helpful critters.

Here is a link that might be useful: Opossums: your garden's evening clean-up crew

Racoons as a species tend to suffer from a lead deficiency. You can understand that now, or after your garden has been destroyed.

Can you expand on the lead comment? I don't understand what you're saying.

Best applied in the multiple round metalic form at high velocity.

You could try an electric fence around your yard's perimeter, or around problem areas. People seem to find them effective in protecting their fish ponds.

I thought the lead message was a little cryptic until I read it a second time... It may not be a legal solution, but it does work. I have also found that stringing bird netting over the plants that they were after has been the best long term solution. I haven't had any bromeliads get shredded in years now, ever since I drape the most tempting ones with bird netting. They don't like getting their paws stuck in the netting, so desist.

I don't think you can really say that possums are better than raccoons at eating snails, for this is what the raccoons are after when shredding my bromeliads, which are a slug/snail haven as they hold water between the leaves. Unfortunately, some raccoons had also discovered that budding/blooming bromeliads have more sugars/starches in the bloom stalks, and developed a taste for chewing on them. I would understand it better if they actually ate what they destroyed, but similar to my waterlily buds, they seem to enjoy chewing and shredding of these more than actually eating them. Good luck with whatever strategy you end up using, and they are so stupid around people that they are an easy shot...

Raccoons, Possums, Skunks, Red tree squirrels, I have had them all. This year I have had two raccoons, 5 possums, 5 skunks, and 10, yes 10 tree squirrels die of lead poisoning. The raccoons, possums, and tree squirrels, have been attacking my figs, and stone fruits. Until about a year ago, I had a labrador as a backyard pet. She must have been running off all the wild critters. I live in a town of 10,000 people and can't stand to have my fruits devoured by unwelcome critters. Someone brought in these tree squirrels from the coast and probably thought they would be pretty running around town. They are, until they decide to eat everything in your backyard. Anyone have a recipe for possum stew? Kern in Newman, Ca.

I've actually eaten squirrel stew. Not much meat for a lot of trouble. Plenty tasty though.