Just a quick note to those considering feral houses, and trying to avoid raccoons... I built this 4x4 house a couple of months ago... still waiting for the roofing material... After reading extensively that this design, elevated at just over four feet, with an access bench at least 36 inches diagonally from the front porch would prevent raccoons, who can't access anything at a distance greater than their length... well, its not true... I had to add the steps for a pregnant little female (you can see her in the photo) to reach it, but I watched in amazement as the raccoons easily cleared the distance without the steps... even moved it an additional 4-5 inches, which is what is pictured here, but the larger raccoons could still make it, with some grappling, but they made it... even wrapped the front edge with 6 inch pvc, thinking they couldn't grasp it... but, on several occasions I stood and watched as they repeatedly made it to the deck.... so a few hundred dollars later, it appears they pretty much get where they want to go...They haven't bothered so much since I stopped putting food on the house's front porch, but the ferals don't much bother with it either... The ferals would get up to eat, but never could get them to go inside, which is 2.5' x 4', and filled with straw... any suggestions on how to get them inside would be appreciated greatly, lol... anyway, the mother has delivered two liters, which she brought to us at around 3-4 weeks of age, but could not get her to stay, which was why we did it in the first place... anyway, just wanted to caution everyone that the old wives tale that raccoons can't jump is totally false... we would never harm them, or the possums that frequent our back yard, but separating them is a little more difficult than we first imagined...