SURROUNDED BY GROUNDHOGS

I CAN HARDLY BELIEVE THAT there was a time when I did not know what a groundhog aka woodchuck was. Now I am surrounded by them! Three live under the shed at one corner of the back yard while another lives amidst bushes in the other. Besides, I have at least two who have invaded the crawl space under the living room floor. I know this because I have heard them above me while working in the basement and, of course, there are two burrow holes under the living room window box.
My neighbor across the street, Gene, has around six on his count. NY Times (in an article entitled 'Peter Rabbit Must Die') reported that one woman who resorted to shooting woodchucks in her garden killed 18 while the 19th committed suicide by running in front of a car! They come out in the morning and evening to feast on grass and favorite plants (especially the ones we like). I have learned a lot about these relatively harmless critters; there is a lot about them on the 'Net. One thing is...it is almost impossible to remove them long term. Personally, I am adopting a 'live and let live' philosophy in regard to them. They are pretty fellows and not ungenerous since they allow other critters like rabbits and chipmunks to share their burrows. It is a pleasure to watch them at their fastidious eating. On any drive around town it is possible to see two or three going about their business in an open lot. There are a lot of them...at least six for each human I would guess.
Two of our woodchuck burrows are host to several rabbits and their little ones.
On the credit side, at least one can fence them out of garden beds; plus they love dandelions so, with the rise in the woodchuck population, we see fewer dandelions. For the time being at least, the local woodchucks have foiled the evident plan of the dandelion clan to take over the world.
If you remove them from their burrow and transport them elsewhere (at least five miles distant)
others will take their place unless you woodchuck-proof their burrow. Bad smells do not deter them, unlike deer, although there may be a nasty tasting substance you can spray on plants you do not wish to donate to the 'save your hungry woodchuck' cause.
I plan to install netting beneath the window box and the shed so they cannot re-enter their lair after I have evicted them. To get them out, I have ordered a one way 'trap' which will let them out but prevent their return. Once I am sure all have gone from the burrows, I will complete the netting barriers. I reckon it will take me two or three weeks to accomplish this.
I will report progress (or regress) from time to time.
In the meantime, anyone who has success in controlling woodchucks, please contribute your ideas. I hope to photograph one of the locals so...watch this space.
Roberto