A funny story - When we were first married, about 25 years ago, we had a 'coon hanging around our bird feeder just like you describe. I wanted to shoot it, but my young wife insisted we would 'get in trouble". Being the new people in the subdivision, I agreed and called the Sherrif. A deputy showed up, and promptly blasted it with his .357 magnum. I said to him, "geeze, I could have done that with a .22...."
He kind of glared at me and growled "then why didn't you?"
I never felt like more of a city slicker than that moment. ;0)