Question
QUESTION: We have a medium size inground pool.  2 years ago, we had groundhogs that burrowed under the deck and around the pool, and had to have a professional come and trap them.  I found a burrow today and a half-eaten hosta plant just outside the hole.  I can't see any animal in the burrow, but it goes under the concrete around the pool.  How can I humanely get rid of the creature, and make sure it/they don't come back permanently?

ANSWER: Your restriction on humane removal makes it difficult to answer the question as different people have different concepts of what constitutes humane.

Making sure woodchucks don't come back is easy to answer. Simply construct a fence around your back yard that is buried deep enough to prevent chucks from digging under and high enough to prevent them climbing over.  Typically, if you build a fence that is buried several inches below ground then with a skirt elbowed out at a ninety degree angle 18 inches or so, this work for the digging part. then the fence should be 4 feet high and wobbly or with another 90 degree elbow to out 12 inches to prevent them from climbing over. As they climb they will hit their head on the overhang.

You can visit http://icwdm.org for more details.

If you could be specific on what your definition of humane is then I can answer the control technique portion of the question. But understand that many people think relocation is humane but research shows it isn't. Again details can be found on the site as well.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I didn't realize that relocation is not a "humane" option.  I also found out today that PA state law requires the destruction of certain trapped wildlife because of rabies concerns (according to the wildlife removal service I decided to call).  I saw the groundhog this am - he ate a 2+ foot diameter hosta overnight.  The wildlife specialist I'm using suggested driving 12"+ pieces of hribar into the ground spaced 2" apart about 2' past and thru the hole area to prevent reinfestation(already fenced, but not skirted).  Do you know anything about this?  Does the ammonia rag/towel trick work for any extended period of time?  A friend suggested I pour used motor oil in the hole, saying that would deter them (not terribly ecologically sound, is it?)

Answer
Sure do. Using stakes is another type of exclusion method. You may find it easier to do than installing skirting. Just be sure you know where all the underground devices are. Punching a hole through an underground pipe etc. would be a bad idea.
Don't waste your time with ammonia, mothballs, sonic devices, coyote urine unless you are dying to spend money. The most effect these items will have is a placebo one.
Sad that your friend would suggest such an environmentally destructive thing as pouring motor oil down a hole.Doing such a foolish act would pollute the ground for probably decades. Can you imagine the destructiveness of doing something like that if people got their water from wells?

As for deterrence, I have already given you the way to exclude them. You can install the fencing, then trap the chuck then release him outside of the fenced in area. He isn't translocated. All he has to do is dig a new den. Sure a lot of work but it is probably legal in your state as you aren't dumping him down the road.

Sorry but there is no magic in this work. The site I mentioned before is experiencing problems, but if you e-mail me I can send you documents.  [email protected]