If animals are abundant and nibbling on your ornamental plantings, investigate alternative planting which may not be as inviting. Check with Dept. Agriculture or UBC Biological Studies for suggested plantings. Black Dacron bird netting, purchased from a plant nursery, is effective when placed over planting beds or individual plants. The nets let new growth through, so they must be lifted and reset every few days to maintain protection.
Repellents containing the bittering agent thiram also work.
A homemade recipe can be effective if sprayed directly on plants and reapplied weekly. Repellent should be applied in the fall, when plants first go dormant, and repeated per instructions. Rabbits don't like human hair or Ropel a commercial product. Most animals are adaptable, so it is important to vary the methods. Raccoons do carry rabies however there are no known cases west of Ontario at this time.