Ain't that first rose a blessing to see, maeve?


The first animal I ever skinned was a groundhog. (roadkill.) The first wild game I ever ate was groundhog. (Killed but not mauled by the dog. Their hides make great drumheads, Barry. But the biggest groundhog ever was would still be too small for a bodhran frame. (And they are the hardest animal I've ever skinned. They like to hang onto their hide, even in death.)

I kinda like groundhogs that are not anywhere near a garden. Really smart and courageous animals. They won't pick a fight, but, as maeve noticed, if they can't avoid it they are fierce.

We had groundhogs down along the creek at the old house. The young ones were pretty easy to trap in the box traps - unless they had seen another one caught in a box trap. Then they wouldn't go near it.   

If you do not get the adults out of there, there will be a new litter every spring to contend with. Cement in the hole may not work. Like I said, they are fabulous diggers and will simply dig out somewhere else.   I suspect you have one den. They always have at least 2 entrances to their burrows. They are also territorial and are not likely to nest closely together.

If, on the otherhand, you have gophers - I haven't a clue. Never seen one up close and in person.