Raccoons are cute and I used to have a problem killing them but I know how destructive they can be and it doesn't slow me down anymore.

Rats and mice? Bad and bad if you ask me.

I've planted squash, tomatoes and jalepenos.

I helped my parents plant a garden and will help them harvest it too. My parents are not too well off physically so I don't mind it at all; especially since I get a lot from it.

I've been shooting the voles that are destroying my front yard. The voles are very small and very nervous. To make it even more sporting I'm using an open sighted .22 pistol with a 4.5" barrel. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

As to what to plant, I love fresh salsa and pico de gallo with white flour tortilla chips. So that means jalapenos, onions, tomatoes, some cilantro, and perhaps some fresh garlic as well. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Heck,grow some hot peppers. That will keep that varmint away. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

yeah its funny, the rabbit never got into my habaneros or jalapenos. Weird how that works....

My sister-in-law once put tabasco sauce on some things to teach her wennie dog from chewing stuff. I did not turn out too well because the dog loves spicy stuff now.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> Squirrels taste great if prepared right! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

I love a good tree rat from time to time! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

i remember summers at my grandparents place with armadillos getting into the chicken coop and doing some real nasty stuff. the raccoons were no better. needless to say any varmints spotted in their yard got done in with no hesitation.

i took the same opinion on pests until i decided to deal with a squirrel that ran across the roof early every morning making a mess with seeds that i had to sweep up later. well i dropped him with a crosman pellet gun one day but... i'll just say that i couldn't take the next shot fast enough. when it happened again with squirrels doing the exact same thing i decided to cut some limbs. luckily they got the idea because i really really do like sleeping when i can. so now no matter how cute or whatever i'd rather not but i will.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/barf.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/barf.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/barf.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/barf.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/barf.gif" alt="" />

Greasy, nasty little buggers. Only way I can tolerate them is in a stew so you taste everything EXCEPT the tree-rat.

I was gonna say, a BB would not kill a racoon unless you served it up at some utterly ludicrous speed that is well outside what a BB gun can supply. A pellet rifle is what you want for that kind of thing, if shooting a .22 would annoy the neighbors. I'm not sure how effective it will be to just whack them with BBs, unless you sit out there 24/7 to keep them scared. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Suppressor would help too

As an old squirrel hunter and varmint killer from way back, trust me, I have all the weapons I need to kill anything that I want dead. I am just trying to keep the peace with my neighbors and survive. I am hoping that the sting of BBs will deter the varmints, but if not, I have everything from a heavy barrelled Ruger 22 varmint rifle to a handy little lever action Henry to get the job done. As a rimfire silhouette shooter, I can kill them out to 100 meters off hand. And I have ranged the whole yard to make sure I have the elevation knob on the right setting. I have way too many squirrels here. I may need to thin them out some. And I think that squirrel meat is tasty. Makes a great gravy.