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["Lon J. Rombough" <lonrom@hevanet.com>]

There are a number of ways to shoot squirrels that are surprisingly safe.  If you can use a .22 (and if it's legal to shoot where you are), there are several types of ammunition to investigate.  One is a short, low velocity type .22 shell used for shooting rats indoors.  The bullets have enough power to kill the rat, but won't penetrate a wall.
Another type is a fragmentation bullet (actually several types) that is essentially a hollow copper jacket with very tiny shot in it.  It has short range and beyond a distance about equal to a back yard, getting hit by one would be like having  sand thrown at you by hand.  You have to find a good gun shop or order online to get these - they aren't sold in ordinary stores.  They ARE lethal to humans at very short range (10 feet more or less), so they aren't totally free of danger.
Some types of air rifles can be pumped up enough that the pellets have the power of a .22 also.  We have an older one that is accurate for about 100 feet, but at close range it will penetrate an inch of soft wood.
All these assume you know how to use them.
-Lon Rombough
Grapes, writing, consulting, my book, The Grape Grower, at http://www.bunchgrapes.com  Winner of the Garden Writers Association "Best Talent in Writing" award for 2003.