To kill or not to kill the Raccoon...That is the question

Tweet

For the past 5 years since I've lived in my present house, I have had a terrible time with critters. Mainly cats, but in the fall months into the winter months, I've had a terrible time with Raccoons. I have called every agency I can find to help me with this problem. These little pests are costing me a fortune. I've had to replace my roof because one liked to sit on top of the house. That was $4,000. The have torn down my gutters and down spouts because I guess that's how one got to the roof in the first place. More $$$$. Now they have torn a hole behind one of the gutters to come live in the attic. Even more $$$. I've call the humane society. They say, "oh yeah rent traps, buy marshmellows and Krispy Kreme donuts, fry bacon and trap it." I say "ok cool, I can do that, can I bring him to you once I trap him?" Answer NO. He's wildlife and we can do nothing with him. Ok, now I call the county. They say, Oh well we have traps you can rent. I say ok cool, what do I do with the creature once he's in the trap. Answer Well you can't bring him here cause he's wildlife. You have to destroy him. Next question, how do I do that. Answer - "being that you live in _________ county, you can't just shoot him cause you'll get in trouble with the po po for firing weapons. So you just get a big trash can, fill it with water and drop the cage in there. Then dispose of the remains in your weekly trash pick up." Hmmm, drastic but ok. Then I call the critter trapper people. The tell me "Sure, we'll come out and trap your raccoons for you. No problem! That'll be $400.00" So far we are up to over $5,000 for these pests. I'm a single parent pinching my pennies already. Meaning I'm broke, I'm maxed out, I've got no more $$$$ to give. But I do have my own trap, a trash can big enough to do the deed, and I keep bacon and cat food on hand anyway. Should I rid myself of these pests the cheapest way or keep paying through the nose?