Raccoons in Compost Bin

Hi All

I've found that my compost bin is starting to attract Raccoons. Usually I wouldn't worry too much but with the tick population growing I'm trying to limit contact with certain critters in the area.

I'm trying to keep a good balance of carbon and nirtogen going, and I do not mix the pile at this time. I'm still building it up. Any ideas on how I can keep the trash panda's away? I don't want to close the bin in because we produce a fair amount of scraps but I will if I have to.

The only way to keep them away is to lock things up so they can't get in, which is a challenge to our human intelligence! The little guys have been reaching through the small holes in my Black Soldier Fly bin and pulling out the scraps. I guess I'd rather they spend all night doing that than trying to break into the chicken coops!

Get a dog, we have some tough coons up here on the mountain and they don't come within a couple hundred yards of where my dog is chained. I also have a free range tom cat that is tough, I wouldn't be surprised if he runs them off I saw him run off a possum once.

My compost pile is right next to the garden beds and neither are fence and nothing messes with them, the dog is about 25 yards away from it.