When you said tree rats I was expecting to see what we call here in Oregon wood rats about the same size. When chase they'll take to any near thick stand of trees running up high jumping from tree to tree like monkeys to get away. Very hard to hit and no I've never eaten one. Squirrel and dumplings does sound pretty good.
All the talk bout squirrel season got me in the mood for some dumplins so I took my 12 ga game gun behind the house this evening an took a couple an my 75 yr old mother is gonna cook us up some dumplins tommorro nite.