Shot pellets in a .22 work fine. I used them to deter raccoons. The police showed up one time because my neighbor called them complaining. I showed them the cartridge I used, told them the coons were fishing in my pond. They looked at the shells and commented that the shot was harmless over 25 feet and the neighbor lived 50 feet away. My neighbor was a bit miffed.
“Shot pellets in a .22 work fine.”
I haddn’t considered that, but it’s a good idea. That or these .22 shorts that have only a primer