North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Lon J. Rombough" <lonrom@hevanet.com>]

If the tree is isolated from other trees, so the 'coon can't jump from one to the other, a large, cone-shaped sheet metal collar on the trunk will keep most of them from climbing the tree.  Or a very wide band of sheet metal flashing that they can't grip.
I met a lady who kept them off her vines by putting containers of human urine around the vines, too. 
In many parts of the country raccoons are a virtual plague, so that even if you live trap them, the best thing to do is kill them.  No one wants them and dumping them elsewhere just gives someone else your problem.  Also, they carry distemper that can get into household pets.
-Lon Rombough
Grapes, writing, consulting, my book, The Grape Grower, at http://www.bunchgrapes.com  Winner of the Garden Writers Association "Best Talent in Writing" award for 2003. 
For even more grape lessons, go to  http://www.grapeschool.com
For growing supplies and more;  http://www.grapegrowersolutions.com

On Jun 3, 2007, at 2:29 PM, Thomas Olenio wrote: