An UNwelcome visitor...

Neil had to go on a business trip again this week. Well, this morning at 5 a.m., I heard some loud noises, thumping, moving, etc. At first I thought it was from Jonah & Clay's room (they always get up early & I was going to be irritated if they were up at 5 a.m.). Then I realized it was NOT coming from their room! It sounded like it was coming from downstairs--either our garage or just outside our house! I was a little freaked out! (We have an alarm system that beeps when a door is opened, so I knew someone wasn't in our house, but was worried that someone was just outside of our house). I went downstairs, trying to figure out where the noise was coming from & looked out our back kitchen window to see a BIG, FAT Raccoon walking across our back patio! Stupid, stinking, greedy little varmint! He's probably the one who has gotten into our garbage twice last week & spread it all over our back lawn! So much for sleeping in... Anyone know of good ways to get rid of Raccoons?