The 3 essential things are Food, Water and Shelter. Many times all 3 of these factors are available within your property lines. Water is usually the easiest of all 3 to find. Sewers are everywhere, bad gutters holding water and bird baths or that pretty goldfish pond out back. If not in your yard, then usually just next door.
Food is always abundant if dogs are near by.
Roof rats or ground rats are satisfied with dog food or dog droppings. One is just as good as the other to a rat. Like rats , raccoons will simply slide down in the street sewer and wait for some disposal food to come floating by. Larger animals like raccoons will travel further distances for food than squirrels , rats , voles or moles. So when small animals like squirrels , find an abundant food source like a tree full of acorns or pecans.