Q: I have found and removed a carcass of a raccoon in a hollow at the base of a large tree. Now what do I do? Should I sterilize the inside or do I fill it with concrete? I hope to save this tree for years but also make my creek habitat not so inviting for raccoons or opossums.

A: Most arborists agree that filling hollows in a tree is not a good idea. Concrete, tar and expanding foam have been tried but they inevitably crack and allow water into the space, causing more damage than the initial hole. If you want to keep critters out, loosely wrap a piece of hardware cloth around the trunk over the hole. To find an arborist go to www.georgiaarborist.org