How many squirrels do you think you could take in a fight to the death?
Was talking about this with my partner while on a hike, they think they couldn't take ni more than 8 While I said I thought i could take at least 30. No weapons, just you and the squirrels.
There are details missing in this question that matter tremendously. Squirrels are faster and more agile than us. If they are well coordinated, and behave optimally to win (without concern to their individual survival, only the group's success), I think it would take only a small number of squirrels to brutally murder most people, something like 5. I think their best strategy would be to go for the eyes first, then inflict bleeding injuries and escape again before the person can react. Without tools, and without backup, this approach wouldn't take long to wear down most people.
If the squirrels don't care about their own survival, but make straightforward attacks, I'd think closer to 10-20. The person's injuries will still compound quickly, but once thet have a grip of a squirrel, it wouldn't be especially hard to lethally injure.
If the squirrels still behave like squirrels, and are instead attacking because (for example), they are starving, then the number probably doesn't matter much, as they're more likely to go after each other, and the person would have the opportunity to plan and ambush small groups at a time.
I'm mentally well, I just like thinking about hypotheticals. I have no plans (nor any desire) to fight any number of squirrels to the death, and I do not condone doing so as entertainment or sport.
The person's injuries will still compound quickly, but once thet have a grip of a squirrel, it wouldn't be especially hard to lethally injure.
Personally I wouldn't plan on gripping them at all. That's asking for a bite. Unless you plan to just trade hits with them until you win? I'm thinking more of a stomping/kicking/striking strategy to do some crowd control and try to keep them off as much as possible.