I’m over here in east AL and I can empathize. Except our nemesis is the damn tree rats. They raid the blueberry hedge and climb the fruit trees, then eat anything they can reach. Fortunately, not everything is fully mature yet. We’ve given up on trying to till and grow a garden plot for now and are doing container gardening for veggies - cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, we even found a variety of patio corn that grows in 2’ tubs and is delicious. I got a pack of container yellow summer squash I want to start this week and the gourds only get about 3” long.
Two words...
pellet rifle.
I have the same problem, walk out the back door and see 5 squirrels scatter. They have wiped out ALL our peaches, pears, pecans and tomatoes the past 6 years.
I’ve picked off at least 20 with my 22, neighbor nabbed over 50, still see a half dozen at any time. Seriously overpopulated...
Fortunately I’m in the boonies, I can use the 22. In towns with pesky laws, get a good pellet rifle. Some can produce 1100fps, that’s faster muzzle velocity than a 22 short. The old Benjamin pump, at about 600-700fps or so, was great for squirrels...and really quiet too.