I feel your pain with the critters!! We seem to be cyclical with the red squirrels. We’re pretty good this year but a year ago, we were as you said, over run! A couple of them ventured into the garage and were wreaking havoc in there. The final straw was making a nest in the wheel well of my car that had been parked for a week. Um, let’s say their fate was determined at that point. This year we hardly see any red squirrels and they’re replaced with Grey and Black. At least they’re not as destructive. Good luck!