[Jeff Higgins]

That really sucks, Patrick. I know exactly how you feel. We have had squirrel and rabbit infestations over the years, and are currently besieged by rabbits. Both can be horribly destructive. And, while I will happily shoot any rats that make the mistake of wandering onto my property, bunnies and squirrels are a much tougher call. I hate killing them. They have, however, devastated our garden in the past, and that's when the gloves come off.

You can't just shoot a squirrel. They are tough little critters. You have to shoot a specific part of the squirrel - head shots are the most immediately lethal, with shots through the vitals - the front half of the animal - a distant second. Shots aft of the shoulders will always result in a lingering, suffering death. Marksmanship is key, with an accurate rifle. More power won't do anything if you are not hitting them properly. Hitting them properly, my air rifles are plenty even for our massive gray squirrels.

I wish there were another way. I'll be interested to hear from others who have actually successfully taken care of a problem like this.