Raccoons are stronger and smarter than you. Get a locking metal bin.

Yes, raccoons and squirrels will absolutely wreck a regular trash can. The only real solution is a heavy-duty metal can with a latching lid or lock. Plastic cans with clips? They’ll pop those off in minutes. Bungee cords? They’ll figure those out too.

Raccoons have nimble paws and surprising strength. Squirrels will chew through thin plastic to get at food scraps. So if you live in an area where they’re aggressive, you have to treat your trash like it’s guarding a nuclear code.

Your options, in order of how well they work:

• Bear-proof metal can. Overkill? Maybe. But it’s also raccoon-proof, squirrel-proof, and neighbor