Yes it is a squirrel. I have seen them run like that. Squirrel comes in different colors, the gray, black, red ones. The red squirrel we have is native to Vancouver Island. Wharf rat are huge, plus their tails are long and they are ugly! I live next to a farm, chicken, turkey, lambs, calves, horses too. So when they need a place to keep warm they come inside, which we set traps for them. Marie [Posted in FML 7114]