A squirrel is nothing more than a rat with good PR.
I’ve killed thousands of ground squirrels. Thousands.
In the last 15 years, I’d reckon somewhere between 3 and 4K is a firm estimate right now... shot, poisoned, gassed, blown up, trapped... you name it, I’ve done it.
Well, aint't you something! I'm deeply impressed.
And you’re doing the world a favor...ground squirrels are a vector for bubonic plague.
http://www.cdc.gov/plague/resources/PlagueEcologyUS.pdf