Racoons?

So what animal is known to pick through trash?  Be smart enough to lift a lid and not leave a big mess showing how it got in the trash can?  Not wild trash thrown everywhere, simply remnants that it was there?

My honey calls me outside on the back deck and says, "How do you think these things are getting here?"  I'm not sure what he's talking about and he points out a paper plate and a shish kabob stick sitting on the deck box next to the SunCast outdoors trash can.  It's plain as day that there are oil stains, cake remnants, a paper plate upside down and that shish kabob stick left out beside the trash can.  I immediately think 'racoon!'.  So I say I think it's a raccoon and he is doubtful.  But how?  Well I'm pretty sure I've heard that raccoons are smart.  And with their perfect tiny little arms and hands they can get to whatever they want.  I can totally imagine a raccoon getting in the trash, digging down for what seems good to him and pulling it out.  He's just not the perfect guest in that he leaves his trash behind and doesn't clean up after himself.  So as my honey is standing there looking very puzzled and freaked out, I say calmly to him, "Baby, I didn't want to tell  you this (and now he is standing there staring at me hanging on my every word) but (and I pause) I have been sneaking out here on the deck in the middle of the night when everyone is asleep and digging through the trash eating whatever I could find.  I haven't wanted to tell anyone because it's kind of embarrassing but now you know." and he just stares at me.  Then he grins.  Next he says, "Why didn't you tell me, you need to stop that you know." and we both just laugh.

Regardless, the racoon (or whatever IT is) is being locked out of the trash.  We'll see tomorrow if the locking idea works.  We shall see.  To be continued.....

Those darn rascally creatures....