Last month, I noticed a massive groundhog hanging out in my yard. I've seen groundhogs around in the past, but usually an infrequent sighting here and there, as if my yard served as a pass-through rather than a home. This one, however, was lying on the ramp leading into my shed, sunning herself. As soon as she noticed me, she scurried under the shed, which I presumed to be the location of her burrow. The next day, there she was again, all flubber and fur laying out in the sun. This went on for a while, until one day she was flanked by two other groundhogs, much smaller than her. All three retreated to their burrow once they noticed me, and that is when I realized I didn't have just one groundhog living under my shed, but an entire groundhog family lived under there.

I haven't seen Mama Groundhog for a bit, but for the past few weeks, the other two have been found foraging and frolicking around the yard on any given day. To be honest, I've come to love them quite a bit; they are so cute to watch. Still, I know that if I were more inclined as a gardener, I'd probably curse their existence since they can be so destructive. But, I'm not a gardener, so instead, I just love them.

However, I took a walk over to the shed the other morning and my jaw dropped at how much dirt they had tunneled away leading under the shed. I made a joke to my partner that one day we're going to come outside to see that half of the shed sank into the earth. He and I laughed, but after a swift Google search, I think I was actually only half kidding. Their tunneling systems can cause major headaches to yards, gardens, and foundations.

As much as I love the groundhogs, I know they can't and won't stay under my shed or in my yard forever. I've been seeing them less and less the past few days, and I am suspicious they've moved onto a new den. Although I am sad to see them go, I know it's for the best for them and also for my shed and the gravel pad it sits on. Regardless of whatever damage they may have left for me to deal with, they have been the most entertaining and adorable neighbors I've ever had.

Paige O. Roberts has a degree in Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in The Henniker Review, Sidereal Magazine, Rejection Letters, and Cypress. She has been nominated for a Best of the Net and Pushcart Prize. She lives in northern New Hampshire, where she owns and operates a pet boutique called Tailswag.