What a brat! We refill our birdfeeder whenever its emptiness threatens a famine for our favourite birds, usually once a week. Top-ups have been happening with increasing frequency, however, since a non-feathered diner discovered the easy pickings.
Yesterday the squirrel managed to dislodge the lid so he could climb right inside the seed-filled cylinder. He chowed down and with stuffed cheeks raced away to store his hoard somewhere safe. After repeated trips I noticed he was taking ownership of the feeder and challenging the chickadees, juncos and blackbirds. When he managed to chase off a much larger jay we took action and securely replaced the birdfeeder’s lid – at which point he challenged us!
We were not persuaded to remove the lid for him. Cheeky brat!
Carol's Musings 
Maybe if you hand-fed peanuts to him, he’d leave the seed alone…. 😉
Ha-ha! That would be reminiscent of your Gram ordering 50# sacks of peanuts from Vancouver to feed to the Oie Lake squirrels. They were a cheeky bunch, too. If their supply was depleted and Gram wasn’t up yet to replenish it, they scrambled around on the screens of the bedroom windows until she got the message!
All my mother would ever say is “Don’t feed the squirrels.” When we asked why, she wouldn’t answer. I’m wondering if was her being scared or humiliated.
Hi Careann. Hope you’re doing well.
Squirrels are cagey little blighters, for sure. Hi Joylene. Yes, all is well thanks. Nice to see you back online after your holiday.