Last November 2016, our sweet potatoes managed to reach fruition after a year of attacks.  Ultimately persevering the foraging of skunks, raccoons, and opossums, we managed to salvage a small harvest.  Our harvests in the past had been three times larger, but we were thankful for our remnant that are very delicious.  Our soil is a mix of organic compost and manure.  We prefer chicken manure from our backyard chickens, but recently retired them to a nearby farm.  We miss our hens for many reasons.  Recently, we have discovered that laying chicken wire over the sprouts in a raised bed using bamboo stakes along the edges is a great deterrent for diggers.