Larry, such a horrible thing to come home to. I learned to hate raccoons when I raised chickens years ago. So much wasteful destruction. One time I was delayed and got home just after dark. I had left the chickens in their yard, and as soon as it got dark the raccoons started their marauding. It was horrible.
Now that I have 8 dogs I don't see any raccoons. Didn't realize how many critters you folks have to deal with in the South that we don't. Even possums are very rare here. I was looking into them to eat the many ticks, but they're iffy. Maybe guinea fowl but I'm not sure the neighbors would like it! Deer are the only other problem as I am surrounded by woods, but I feed my dogs real meat (whatever's on sale) and place their poops around the garden perimeter and zero deer. I had to do this procedure a few times the first year, but then only one year after that, and apparently deer just X your property off their map, bc they haven't been back. Don't know if that works for other critters or not. Deer are hard-wired to beat feet when they smell carnivore poop.
Hope you're able to get your dls recovered ok.
