An Unwelcome Visitor

This visitor has 4 legs and a tail and I had my mind made up not to like him by the signs he left that he had visiting, many holes dug under my shed. Until recently we had always lived in upstairs condos and so I have little experience with what goes on down on the ground, but now we have a bit of a backyard with a shed, and this critter left big holes under the shed. I was going to get him, as soon as I found out what he was. Well, then he had to audacity to make an appearance when my camera was in my hand!
What? He was so cute! But he was so naughty. Which was it, adorable or evil. I had to ask Mr. Google! Or Ms. Google as the case may be. Well, he turned out to be a ground squirrel, mistakenly called a gopher hereabouts, but no he is a squirrel for sure. And dangerous! The teeth? Maybe, but these critters can spread Bubonic Plague and other horrible diseases that are transmittable to humans. So I shall have to give him the heave-ho, somehow.
My myLot friends, new and old, may be able to give me some advice here. Have you ever befriended one of these creatures? Or gotten rid of them. How did you get rid of them? Did you try some things that didn't work? Which things worked and which didn't?Or for the rest of us, do you have these where you live? Have you ever seen one? Do you have other pests that make holes in the lawn, eat the wiring in your car, or your newly ripened tomatoes in your garden, or dine on expensive bulbs you just planted?