Besides bugs and so forth here are some photos of other Texas garden pests.

They are so cute but oh, my, th-e damage they cause!

You're right about that Cheryl. I didn't think they went after tomato plants. If so much of their habitat wouldn't have been destroyed with home building it might not have gotten this bad. That and some people here in town think it's cute to feed them.

And then there are these. DH is taking him to a lovely new area with $300K lots.

Fortunately I haven't seen any of these in town Sandi. I bet he'll just love his new home and so will those who own the lots My trail cam didn't catch any last night but here's a few from about 3yrs ago. I quit putting the camera out for a couple of years as I knew they were always out there. That's the reason I put most of my plants in the backyard this year but guess it didn't help. The first one was about 15' away next to my driveway.

OMGosh! Don't get me started on the raccoon issues here! One night, I started throwing rocks at then on my roof. I am a te-rrible throw-er and pictured me thr-owing a rock through our windows and stopped in time! But damn those @#!% critters! They want IN our attic!!!

@chris1948 We have coyotes that are getting bolder about approaching people and pets in our subdivision. They are coming up from the canyons. We live near Barton Creek and have seen a lot more of them this year than ever before. Very few residents have outdoor cats anymore. The coyotes can jump the privacy fences too.

@ShadyGreenThumb We stopped counting trapped raccoons at 50. This current one must have had a friend night before last. There was too much damage around our pond for it to only be one. We will prepare a delicious dinner of Stubb's BBQ leftovers for the other one tonight.

Wow @Bubbles. You feed them well! Ours aren't picky and will take dog food and grapes/fruit. I am way behind you trapping only 3 b-ut they were in our attic. I haven't tried to catch them in th-e yard. I am certain I would, though. A neighbor wanted to be rid of them as they housed und-er h-er deck. -She called a trapping service who trapped 27 raccoons in a month's time. It was a great summer for our yard that year!

Just wanted to share......I live in downtown Houston. They live in the storm drain and in a neighbors house who didn't mind them living in his attic. Anyway, I caught one in a have a heart trap. Called the SPCA and asked if I could bring him in (like I had done previously with a wild cat I had caught). They replied that I could bring him in and they would all but give him a spa treatment then release him back in my neighborhood because that's where his family was. I didn't understand this reward system so I just released the raccoon in my backyard. I didn't understand rewarding him with a hot meal and shower, too. As long as they stay out of my attic!!

They say that 'coons are territorial and if you don't take them like 50 miles away, they will find their way back to your house. I took ours to the College. There is plenty of forest over there. Not 50 miles away, though. But if he can c-ross the freeway, get over the railroad tracks and down the busy str-e-ets then I guess they deserve a home here.

No wonder they're so cunning and smart. You take your raccoons to college! The BBQ we'll be baiting with is just little scraps.

Wow Lynne, I can't believe they're in downtown Houston! I would think they'd be here because we're so close to Ft. Hood and all the open land but I haven't seen anything but deer around here. When my son saw this buck he thought of building a deer stand in the big tree in our front yard and using a crossbow. Of course this one is too young yet but who knows what's roaming around. And you caught a wild cat in downtown Houston?

There is lots of wild life in downtown Houston. There are patches of dense trees in parks and along the bayous that run through the city that are no doubt attractive to raccoons, alligator, possum, and I guess wild cats.

I guess I should have said feral cat, not wild cat. Although this cat I brought in was most unhappy being in that cage. Living in downtown Houston, I have raccoons and possums as regulars.......and rats (yuck). I was most embarassed at my last oil change when the service guy brought my in-cabin air filter in so he could ask if I wanted it replaced. Usually I have to hunt for a spec of dust while they try to fish for more money from my wallet. Anyway, my air filter was piled with nest material and rat poo. I turned two shades of red. I felt like someone had discovered dust bunnies under my furniture. So I now have rat bait stations outside. (Last time I mentioned trapping rats was on the neighborhood chat site. Someone reported my post as inappropriate because 'rats have feelings too'. ....,so I'm sorry if I have offended anyone)

I also have hawks, owls and just today discovered hundred of tadpoles in my old cast iron pot in back. Like wild kingdom.....on my little downtown lot. I love it.

I had forgotten about the bayous there. About all we see of Houston is when we're going to Galveston and on 610 and 45. Speaking of rats I've got a big non-flowering Mulberry tree in my front yard and since the ground is so dry and has been for years I guess some rats have tunneled underground and now the ground is sinking. I used to have a family of frogs that lived inside one of the large roots that had kind of rotted out but they disappeared I guess the rats may have eaten them. That's pretty bad reporting your post over that.

@chris, we're on the west side of downtown Houston in the Galleria area. Here's a shot of trees in with the high rises. I'm sure animals love it!

Thanks Cheryl, I'd just never had thought there would be that much of a wild critter problem there. I learn something every day

@mcash70 Please call your Canadian geese home. They have had a nice vacation in Texas and need to go north! Honk!

Off of my back deck I have several prized Gingers and a few small Azaleas. For the past several months they have looked awful! Normally I am a good diagnostician regarding Texas pests. What could be killing them? Huhmmm...
Two days ago while sitting on the deck enjoying a cup of coffee, I found out the pest!
My 5 year old Son.
After 7 daughters, it never occurred to me that a boy could be so damaging.
Guess what the pest likes to do instead of going into the bathroom? I will skip posting a photo.

Good detective work Tim. Now we're of the old school parents so I would suggest a trip to the 'woodshed' would be in order.