Whoever is responsible for teaching the racoons how to get into my garbage cans can stop it right now. They are even these Rubbermaid cans:

The cans are advertised to have “Friction-fit lid with handles that lock down provides security and extra protection against rodents, pets, etc. ”
Whatever.
Lex
Be glad it’s not bears.
Brian J.
Of course, the super lid only protects the contents from those predators who would try to lift the top straight off.
If they knock the can over, though, all guarantees are off.
norbizness
Speaking as a high-level advisor to the Rubbermaid Corporation, a raccoon, strictly speaking, is neither a rodent nor a pet, lessen you’re one of the Beverly Hillbillies.
Toren
I use Aguila subsonic rounds from a 8″ .22 revolver. So far, none of the neighbors have complained.
tom scott
I live on the hillside in Anchorage and walk my beagle twice a day (usually) and these are some of the types of things that I watch for.
link
JKC
Try a metal trashcan, and secure the top with a bungee cord. That keeps the critters in the Adirondacks at bay.
Black Oak
HAH!! Good luck. Back in college I worked for a resort in Northern Minnesota. They had the galvanized trask cans with lid and we used to bungee cord them too.
Still 2 – 3 times per week we had to pick up the trash from one or more trash cans that a big coon BENT the lid open to get at the trash inside.
Better to put your garbage in the garage.
Veeshir
No Adrian, we’re trying to contain racoons now, we already beat the commies.
I had a war with racoons in upstate NY, they won. I finally had to build a shed for my trash cans. And it had to have a low roof so the lids couldn’t be opened.
If you live in a rural area, I would take Toren’s advice. Otherwise, just throw the trash out the window and the racoons will take it away for you. Dogs will usually eat whatever the racoons leave.
norbizness
Wow! I can’t wait not to read the rest of those spammed entries!
Kathy K
They seem to be gone…
I’m afraid that in the War Against Racoons, appeasement is the only way to keep your cans intact. Take Veeshir’s advice. Put the garbage in a big bowl a distance from the house. It will disappear in short order.
CadillaqJaq
What LEX up there said about bears! We have bears, deer, skunks, etc., here in NW lower Michigan.
I have a squirrel-proof bird feeder that so far the bears haven’t found. But a white-tailed deer has… he/she must have a suction hose for a tongue ‘cuz if I leave the feeder out at night, the bird seed is gone the following morning.
Oddly enough, it IS squirrel-proof, ;)
CadillaqJaq
If only we could utilize Kathy K’s advice to rid the world of terrorists… place a bowl of garbage out for them to consume.
D
My Rubbermaid cans have been quite secure for several years; no problems with neighborhood rodents or dogs, etc. Recently, however, some enterprising critters have taken to biting THROUGH the lid. Didn’t get too far but they chewed about a 1 cm hole through the handle.
What was that about the mother of invention? It’s not just for people anymore.
Veeshir
I see John doesn’t like link whores like Adrian. I later saw that exact post on at least one other blog. Then I saw other, identical posts posted to multiple blogs.
Maybe Adrian could try to stay on-topic and not just throw in whatever he/she thinks is good. I didn’t click the link for just that reason.