We have tons of squirrels because of the orchards in N California. They aren't edible and they seem know what the range of most rifles. Problem we have shooting here is damaging the trees so we have to shoot them on the ground when they move from tree to tree or try to make it to their burrows. I use an accurized 10/22 and my friends who own the orchard I hunt use a Savage.
They've moved into neighborhoods because of all the trees. They steal dog food when they can and they've learned to use telephone lines to travel from area to area to avoid the dogs in backyards..
My terrier use to catch them, but at 20, blind, and deaf, she isn't very good at it anymore. At my house, I have to use a silenced pellet gun because of the proximity of neighbors. They used to live in my attic until I replaced my roof and put steel wool in all the vents. Darn things now live in my redwoods, my neighbors attics, and raid my mandarin orange trees.
