Do you have wild creatures (birds, opossums, skunks, raccoons, wild turkeys, etc.) prowling around or living in your backyard? Sure you do. That’s why I’m writing this.

Please grab your cameras, take pictures of your wild visitors and send them to me. I’m writing a front page story about your wild neighbors for a Sunday early next year (not far away) and would like to use your photographs to illustrate it. Wouldn’t that be fun? It will also be more natural.

I know a lot of you are already taking these kinds of pictures because you often send them to me. So now we need to get serious about it. I’ll explain more about my plans, including deadlines and the publication date, as I figure them out.

Start shooting away now and post your photos in our Contra Costa Times Pets & Wildlife reader photoblog at contracostapets.buzznet.com. You may post your photos anonymously. However, if you’d like us to consider using your shots in my story, please either register and login before submitting your photos or, if you do post anonymously, send me a separate e-mail (garybug@infionline.net) to let me know which image you’ve submitted. If you don’t do e-mail, mail your photos to: Gary Bogue, c/o The Times, 2640 Shadelands Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598.

Be sure and hold onto an original digital or film copy of any photos you submit. Thanks!

About 10 years ago I was getting so many questions about raccoons tearing up back lawns to find tasty earthworms to dine on, I put together a 6-page Raccoon Fact Sheet filled with tips to help people deal humanely with these raccoon encounters. After all, they are your wild neighbors.

If you are bumping heads with your raccoon neighbors, I’ll be happy to e-mail you a copy. Just e-mail me at garybug@infionline.net and ask for a copy of Gary’s Raccoon Fact Sheet. It will also be helpful if you give me a brief description of your raccoon problem.

If you have your own humane and successful way of dealing with these beautiful creatures, please click on "comments" (below) and let people know. You never know what’s going to work with these clever animals and it’s best to have a lot of ideas in your bag of tricks.

Due to popular demand, I’m also working on a new "Human Fact Sheet" for the raccoons. (Just kidding … I think.)

Looks like it’s "that" time of year again. I’m getting a lot of calls about "torn up lawns." If you need a copy of my free 6-page raccoon fact sheet, filled with lots of humane ideas on how to protect your yard and get along with your wild neighbors … send a legal-size, stamped (with two stamps), self-addressed envelope to: Gary’s Raccoon Help, c/o The Times, P.O. Box 8099, Walnut Creek, CA 94596-8099.