I have a regular route around the South Bay Area that has some sections in the East Bay that have huge ground squirrel populations. On some days there are what must be between 30 - 50 ground squirrels in the area that all decide to run across the trail I'm riding on to get to safety.
Unfortunately two of them did not make it this year.
Per
Sorcerer 's point it's super important not to freak out and crash yourself. I understand the feeling to avoid them and it sucks to roll over the little critters though.