I tried cayenne pepper on my dogs resting place. They haven't touched it.

It does NOT have to be a spray. And I can tell you from personal experience. Cayenne PEPPER works. Just buy the actual ground up cayenne pepper. Sprinkle it all over..... It works.

But if they are coming over for garbage. You better put lids on the trash cans. Still.... sprinkle Cayenne all over.

I was at one Apartment complex and the deer and other varmints were eating everything. I used a huge canister of Cayenne pepper. Next morn you can see where a deer bit into a large rose flower..... Spit it out and I bet needed a drink of water afterwards, lol.

We do the same thing for possums on our roses it works well.

I know for a fact that any kind of mint keeps away raccoons or any animal they don't like the menthol taste so a tree of mint leaves works wonders

That's true too Almondjoy. I've read that. I think the Cayenne works best though.

I've also heard, peppermint oil sprayed on and around your home can keep many insects away.

I dunno so much about raccoons but I know rats will go all over compost bins inside and out.