Yes, groundhogs/woodchucks can certainly cause major damage to building foundations, although the worst damage is usually to barns, sheds, and the like that may just have a slab floor or basic support beams. When woodchucks burrow underneath these types of structures, they often destroy the underlying ground supporting the structure and can eventually cause them to sag or even collapse. This may not occur in your home with a cement block basement, but woodchuck burrows can still cause significant problems (water damage too from altered drainage flows).

There are humane methods to deter woodchucks, but they are usually only temporarily effective (predator scents, decoys, noise makers, etc.). Also, if the woodchuck(s) are well established they likely won't abandon their burrow for many of these tactics. Trapping and relocating far away is humane, but you need to check with your local DNR office for legality; typically professional trappers have permits to do this. Otherwise, trapping and killing is the most effective method, unfortunately.

The burrowing could be considered seasonal, but they will reuse burrows year after year and different individuals will likely continue finding your home if it's a good burrow habitat.

Trenching and laying chicken wire might work and I've seen several approaches to this tactic, but it's a bit of gamble and really needs to be done properly to have a chance at working. For example, you need to carefully consider how much chicken wire you'd need to lay down extending from your home foundation outward to actually prevent burrowing (the woodchuck may just explore digging until it finds the edge of where you laid down the wire). I've never done this, so can't speak to it's effectiveness but my sense is that it's a lot of work and may not be effective unless very thoroughly done. This PennState link below has some suggestions for such a tactic if you want to pursue this.

Here are some external links that may provide some helpful suggestions for your situation:

PennState Extension - Woodchucks

Michigan DNR - Nuisance Wildlife

University of Wisconsin Extension - Woodchucks

MSU Extension - Discouraging Deer, Woodchucks & Rabbits

If you need assistance with any trapping or relocation questions, you can contact your local DNR Customer Service Center.

I hope this information is helpful.

Thank you very much.