At one time, we fed 32 raccoons every evening. Got cheap cat food from Sams Club. They never bothered anything else around. We worried about them getting into our pool, but they never did. And what a show they put on. I could even go out to the back deck and feed them “animal cookies” dipped in milk. Their fur was beautiful! The rest of the neighborhood greatly appreciated our efforts. We moved and I worried about our coons. Last year we had two screech owls living in the upper park of our arbor. They were entertainment also. Even bought an outdoor heater to run during the coldest time in December. The other day I saw what I thought was a “white skinny snake” poking out of the owl house we built...but it turned out to be a possum and it was his tail that kept hanging out of the door! It’s funny and educational to see all the wildlife come by. Our friends say we have a bed and breakfast for all the animals. LOL.
Years ago, a raccoon got into our neighbor’s garage, opened up the refrigerator door, opened one of the drawers, took out the cold cut meats and ate them all. Very dexterous.
My dad had a raccoon when he was a kid that the found as a youngling. It would pester my aunt by messing up her hair and throwing her laundry out of the basket. Its biggest claim to fame was it would go to the tavern back door of an evening, scratch on the door, receive a saucer of beer, and waddle home. whole town knew.