[Notthemomma]

These are not the typical tree squirrels you are thinking about. It’s a different breed of cat, if you will:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richardson%27s_ground_squirrel

And BB guns generally lack the velocity or energy to kill small rodents. I’ve shot tree squirrels with my adult air rifle (Sheridan/Benjamin 5mm (20 cal) pellets) pumped up to about 800 fps and one will go through a tree squirrel but not exit, because the little critters are tough. A 22 cal rifle bullet will work just fine, but that has a danger range of up to 1.5 miles, so you don’t just give them nilly-willy to kids and tell them to blast away.

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

These are not the typical tree squirrels you are thinking about. It’s a different breed of cat, if you will:

And BB guns generally lack the velocity or energy to kill small rodents. I’ve shot tree squirrels with my adult air rifle (Sheridan/Benjamin 5mm (20 cal) pellets) pumped up to about 800 fps and one will go through a tree squirrel but not exit, because the little critters are tough. A 22 cal rifle bullet will work just fine, but that has a danger range of up to 1.5 miles, so you don’t just give them nilly-willy to kids and tell them to blast away.

Correct. Ground squirrels everywhere are considered to be destructive pests and may be taken freely.

A better solution is to use the Squirrelinator. It's a no-kill trap that allows you to catch up to 20-25 squirrels at a time. It's a lot like the squirrel motel. They check in, but can't check out.

Once caught they can be dispatched using an optional water basin to drown them or by shooting them through the bars of the trap.

I've used mine a lot over the years and they're very effective.

[frank ballenger]

RE: These are not the typical tree squirrels you are thinking about.

Bullwinkle: I never thought of you as typical, Rocky.

Rocky: Thanks. I am a flying squirrel. We’re elite.

[Alas Babylon!]

A 22 cal rifle bullet will work just fine, but that has a danger range of up to 1.5 miles, so you don’t just give them nilly-willy to kids and tell them to blast away.

I know you're not the momma, but that's exactly what my Momma told me to do after they ate her prized Confederate Roses.

Hell hath no fury like a Southern Momma gardener against critters that eat the stuff they grew!

[Hot Tabasco]

A .22 cal PCP air rifle will work just fine. I use mine to kill squirrels (65 in past 15 months), possums, skunks and a raccoon.........

Brocock Sniper XR, .22 cal Mine comes with a 0DB suppressor

Available from Airguns of Arizona

[NFHale]

Prairie Dogs…

.17HMR will take them nicely. There used to be a crew out in Montana / Wyoming that specialized in eradicating them with long range precision shots. They had videos showing them using .223 and .17 HMR. Pretty gruesome. I think they were “Maximum Carnage”…