For years, I ran two Have-a-Heart live traps (with whole peanut bait).
Then drowned them in a Rubber-made garbage can of water. I would take a dozen a week (spring to fall)... for years.
Once caught, you have to lock the doors on each end with vice grips before giving them the swim, or the doors will open when the trap is turned sideways to drop them in the can, and they shoot out of the water and climb your face with sharp claws.
The irony of using Have-a-Heart traps in this manner was not lost on me. But these bastards caused no end of damage to my property, and I'm not driving 2000 squirrels to some safe haven elsewhere. Around here, everyone has all the squirrels they need. BTW, they are gone in under a minute.
Time for your baptism buddy. (the squirrel size Have-a-Heart traps have a door on both ends)
Swim tank. (if you want to run this in winter, add antifreeze to the water)
I did this out of sight of neighbors, but there were no trapping laws/seasons on squirrels to worry about (check your own DNR state laws).
In summer heat, you can't throw the carcasses in the garbage without maggots and flies, so I bagged them and made squirrel Popsicles of them in the basement freezer until the night before garbage pickup.
And no, I don't eat squirrel (or rats).
It's not as fun as shooting, but it's fully legal where I live (unlike shooting), and because you don't have to hunt (just set the traps and go about your business, to check later), over time, this method takes out many more than by shooting.
