One think I am unsure of with mulch is whether it would ultimately cause the same problems for the tree as piling on soil. I guess it would at least initially be more permeable, but it's something I'd like to hear expert advice on. Of course, it's hard to know just where the roots go. There are no doubt feeder roots all over (at least where the woodchuck hasn't gnawed through them). The one main root that goes into the area I'm looking at is at surface level, so far as I can see, as the trunk is actually 2-3' up a little bank, and this root is trailing down. That part of the "shade room" area is also the highest. Other areas are depressed 1-2'. So perhaps the lower areas can be filled with gravel, with only some sort of topcover (whether mulch or crushed stone) over the area with known roots? I'll look up KwikDek, though a surface that has to be moved around every so often is probably not a good bet for me. And I'm not totally keen on decks anyway, as the one I have needs annual waterproofing. (I think if I ever install more decking, I'd want to go with one of the new composites like Trex, but they seem beastly expensive by comparison right now.)

Today we removed some of the rocks around the shed's bottom and discovered a hole that seemed to go straight down. it's pretty hard to see under there, but there wasn't a lot of dirt piled up so we dont' think it could be much of a tunnel yet. We also have thoroughly checked within a 50 feet radius of the shed and are sure there is no other entrance. We tried putting a hose down the hole and running it for quite a while. Didn't see any water come out anywhere, but no groundhog either. We threw a bunch of mothballs and some dog droppings under the shed, but I think since the hog has nowhere to go but out into the fenced garden he is staying entrenched. I think your suggestion of a professional exterminator is unfortunately our next step. Hopefully they guarantee success? If his quote is too high we might try fencing the hog *in* by fencing all around the shed's bottom first. I have some nice 'lopes and watermelons not to mention alot of okra (which the hog appears to enjoy also) still in that garden and I don't want to lose them all. Already I am unable to plant fall stuff lest it just be nipped off as it comes up and I don't want to waste my seed and labor. It is illegal here to move trapped wildlife although recently my kids saw someone letting a groundhog go in a local park. Off the record, animal control officers have hinted that you can move a trapped pest yourself, but that may be because it's a pain for them to repeatedly come out and pick them up. There are times when we catch 'coons night after night (we have chickens). One officer said something about "go about a mile" which I guess would help avoid the danger of moving rabies all over the county. I think it is unlikely that a homeowner would be prosecuted, but we always call animal control to pick up our trapped animals. AC destroys them. Letting a pest go would violate the golden rule by giving someone else our problem. Suburbanites tend to think it's ok to drop off unwanted dogs, cats and wild animals in rural areas where they will supposedly be less likely to bother anyone. But we country farm folks don't appreciate having our fields, gardens and livestock threatened.

I finally found out WHY I have rats in my yard. Because of my neighbors! My very irresponsible neighbors were stashing a bunch of trash behind their shed near a the small swamp at the end of the dead end... Recently we were all issued new garbage cans (a big giant one for trash, and two other large ones for recycling) from the city. Apparently this one appartment didn't receive their new cans, so their solution? Just dump all their trash near the swamp! When my husband found out about this, he was LIVID! Because of their negligence, we have a rat problem. Although I did try this synthetic bobcat/fox urine powder, and filled in their holes, and haven't seen any evidence of the little suckers in a few days. Hopefully they moved out. But if I see more of them, we are going to get some traps, like posters have said, I don't really care if the rat-removal is humane anymore, I just want them gone. Thanks for all of the suggestions.

Borrow a trail cam and set it up. Raccoon, skunk, possum, armadillo?